United States, Apr 09: Kim Clijsters will be the new world number two when the rankings are released on Monday. The Belgian will overtake Venus Williams and break the stranglehold the Williams sisters have held on the top two ranking places since June 2002.

Venus has elected not to defend her Amelia Island title next week and will thus lose the 284 points she picked up in 2002. Clijsters will move into her highest ranking position yet having picked up two titles this year, in Sydney and Indian Wells.
The 19-year-old is yet to win a Grand Slam, but reached the final of the French Open in 2001, losing 12-10 to Jennifer Capriati in the final set.


Bureau Report