Glushko dethrones Pe’er to become Israel No. 1

Pe’er had been Israel’s top ranked women’s player since overtaking Anna Smashnova in 2006, reaching No. 11 in January 2011.

By ALLON SINAI
Julia Glushko 311 (photo credit: (Israel Tennis Association))
Julia Glushko 311
(photo credit: (Israel Tennis Association))
After seven years, Shahar Pe’er officially lost her status as the Israel No. 1 on Monday after dropping 31 places to number 171 in the world and being leapfrogged by Julia Glushko, who jumped 18 places to a career-high 131.
Pe’er has been Israel’s top ranked women’s player since overtaking Anna Smashnova in 2006, reaching No. 11 in January 2011. However, she has consistently plummeted down the rankings in the past two years, falling yet again on Monday following her first round loss in the French Open.
Glushko, on the other hand, reached a career-best ranking after coming through three rounds of qualifiers to reach the main draw at Roland Garros for the first time. It was just the second time that the 23- year-old advanced to the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament after making her major debut at the US Open last year.
Meanwhile, Rafa Nadal said he believes he can finish the year as world No. 1 after dropping to fifth in the rankings on Monday, changing places with David Ferrer, the man he beat to win the French Open for a recordextending eighth time.
Due to the ATP’s 12-month rolling ranking system that awards no points for defending a title, Nadal had nothing to gain from reclaiming the Roland Garros crown he won last year.
The 12-times Grand Slam champion, however, now has almost nothing to lose until the end of the season after a knee injury sidelined him for the last five months of 2012.
“There are still six months ahead of us,” Nadal told reporters.
“I could be number one again if I continue at that level and if I’m not injured.
But this is not 100 percent sure.”
Following his triumph, Nadal became the first player to already guarantee a top-eight finish and a place at the World Tour finals. The 27-year-old is fifth in the world rankings, but is first in the Race standings that are based on the calendar year’s results.
After last year’s French Open, Nadal reached the quarterfinal in Halle and the second round at Wimbledon before injury ended his 2012 campaign.
This means he has just 90 points to defend until the end of the season.
“To be number one in this era, you need to play during the whole season,” he said.
“You have to play during the whole season and do well, because the other players are very competitive.
They’re going to be there.
“I need to keep winning a lot of points if I want to have any chance to be number one at the end of the season.”
Nadal heads to Wimbledon in search of a third title, but having decided to skip this year’s Halle tournament, his preparation for the grasscourt Grand Slam will be far from ideal.
“I will check all my body and I hope to be ready for Wimbledon,” said Nadal.Reuters contributed to this report.