WTA Tour

Serena Williams' inspiring run to the title in Stanford in just her third tournament back from a year-long absence sent her shooting up the rankings - from No.169 to No.79. How does that compare to the other huge climbs she has had from one ranking week to the next during her career and what were the circumstances of each?

Circumstances: In just her second career WTA main draw event, Williams beat No.7 Mary Pierce and No.4 Monica Seles en route to the semifinals in Chicago, resulting in a move just shy of the Top 100.

Circumstances: Williams won three qualifying matches in Moscow to make her first WTA main draw, and despite losing in the first round, she made the second-greatest ranking ascension of her career.

Circumstances: Williams' ranking got as low as No.175 just a few weeks earlier as her points from her 2010 Wimbledon title came off, but a title in Stanford - highlighted by wins over No.5 Maria Sharapova and No.9 Marion Bartoli - lifted her back comfortably inside the Top 100.

Circumstances: Williams actually fell out of the Top 100 during an injury-plagued 2006. She moved up a bit prior to the 2007 Australian Open and then despite being unseeded, beat three Top 10 players in Melbourne in becoming the fourth-lowest-ranked woman to win a major.

Circumstances: Williams beat two Top 10 players - including No.3 Lindsay Davenport - in reaching the semifinals in just her third WTA main draw in Sydney, resulting in a rise just short of the Top 50.