Serena Williams determined to cling to number one ranking

Serena Williams has vowed to cling to the world number one ranking but questions may be asked about her claim to that status if Angelique Kerber takes her scalp in today’s Wimbledon final.

American Williams was fiercely critical of the Women’s Tennis Association ranking system seven years ago, after landing the Wimbledon title meant she owned three grand slams but still sat at number two, behind the major-less Russian Dinara Safina.

And if German left-hander Kerber adds Wimbledon’s Venus Rosewater Dish to her Australian Open title, then she will be the owner of two slams yet stand adrift of Williams, who will be the holder of none, on the WTA computer.