Williams set to go top again

Serena Williams will regain her world number one ranking after she beat Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2 in the second round of the China Open.

The result, combined with Dinara Safina’s defeat yesterday by world number 226 Zhang Shuai – the lowest-ranked player ever to beat a world number one – means Williams will go top again when the new rankings are announced on Monday.