Serena Williams seals the No1 honour

Serena Williams has clinched the year-end women’s world No1 ranking for the third time.

The 32-year-old American (below) has won nine singles titles this season, including the French Open and the US Open, and in February became the oldest woman to clinch the top ranking.

WTA chief executive Stacey Allaster said: “This season she continues to rewrite the record books, proving she is one of the sport’s greatest athletes of all time.”

Williams will receive her world No1 trophy at next month’s WTA Championships in Istanbul. Other players who have already qualified for the end-of-season event for the top eight are Li Na, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska.