PARIS(AP) Even though Serena Williams lost Wednesday, she's rising in the rankings - in doubles.
Williams will be No. 1 next week in both singles and doubles. She and her sister Venus clinched the top spot in doubles by winning their French Open semifinal against Liezel Huber and Anabel Medina Garrigues, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The victory came hours after Serena was eliminated in the quarterfinal of singles by Samantha Stosur.
To be No. 1 in singles and doubles simultaneously is such a great moment, something that I wouldn't have imagined,'' Williams said.It took a lot of hard work and was not easy for us to get to the top, and I hope we can hold onto this accomplishment for a long time.''
Serena will become the sixth woman to hold the top spot in singles and doubles simultaneously, and the first to do so since Kim Clijsters in 2003. The group also includes Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport.
Navratilova, diagnosed this year with a noninvasive form of breast cancer, teamed with Jana Novotna in legends doubles Wednesday to beat Mary Joe Fernandez and Conchita Martinez, 6-1, 6-2.
The Williams sisters have never previously led the doubles rankings.
It's an achievement that I never thought would happen,'' Venus said.To clinch No. 1 in singles and doubles is an honor, and to be able to achieve it in doubles with my sister is just wonderful.''
The sisters won their only French Open doubles title in 1999. They're seeking their 12th Grand Slam doubles title together and fourth in a row.
The match against Huber and Medina Garrigues featured plenty of point-blank exchanges.
They were going at us, like literally hitting us,'' Serena said.It was just like we had to just kind of defend ourselves out there. Finally we got a little used to the pace and were able to play a little bit better.''