Wozniacki to drop out of No. 1 ranking

MELBOURNE, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Caroline Wozniacki's loss Tuesday at the Australian Open costs her not only a shot at a first Grand Slam title but the world No. 1 ranking.

Kim Clijsters defeated Wozniacki 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in the quarterfinals in Melbourne. That allowed Clijsters to keep her chances of repeating as Australian Open champion alive. She'll go against world No. 3-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals.

But for Wozniacki, the result was a continuation of major tournament disappointments. While she's won 18 tournaments and earned the No. 1 ranking with consistent play, she's only been to a Grand Slam final once. She lost the 2009 U.S. Open title to Clijsters.

The defeat Tuesday means she'll drop to at least third in the rankings next Monday. She's been No. 1 for the last 49 weeks and 67 weeks overall. The 49-week streak is tied for the 14th longest and only eight women have been No. 1 longer than 67 weeks.

"To be honest, I don't really think about it," Wozniacki said on the WTA Web site of being No. 1. "I have been there for a long time already. I finished No. 1 two years in a row.

"At the end of the year we'll see who played the best throughout the year. We're just in January. I will get it back eventually, so I'm not really worried right now."

Either No. 2 Petra Kvitova, Azarenka or fourth-ranked Maria Sharapova will take over the top spot next week. Kvitova and Azarenka haven't been ranked No. 1 before and would be the 21st woman to reach the top rung.

Sharapova has been ranked No. 1 for 17 weeks, taking over the top spot the first time on Aug. 22, 2005. She was No. 1 three other times, mostly recent June 8, 2008.