Serena Williams will finish this season as world number one for a third time, the WTA confirmed on Friday.
The American, who turned 32 on Thursday and is due to resume her season next week in Beijing, has won nine titles and more than $9 million in prize money during 2013. Her titles include repeat honours at the French and US Opens.
Williams stands 67-4 this season and has won a career total of 55 singles and 22 doubles titles. She returned to the number one ranking last February, “Serena has proven time and time again throughout her career that she is an incredible champion, both on and off the court,” 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 is among five players who have qualified for the year-end championships, being played for a final year in Istanbul before moving to Singapore for a five-year run.
She will be joined in Turkey for the October 22-27 eight-woman finals by Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska and China’s Li Na.