PARIS, France - Maria Sharapova has seen some drastic highs and lows in the last four years. She spent her 17th career week at World No.1 in June 2008, but then a right shoulder injury would keep her out of action for nine months between 2008 and 2009 and she would see her ranking go as low as No.126.

There were some bumps in the road during the long climb back to the top, but consistent results highlighted by deep runs at Grand Slams have become the norm for her recently. The latest example of that, reaching Saturday's French Open final, has assured her of returning to No.1 on Monday - almost exactly four years after she last occupied that spot.

"It's such an amazing feeling to be back in the position of being No.1 in the world. I had the joy of holding the No.1 trophy many years ago," Sharapova said. "Since then I've gone through the injury and come back, and to be holding it a few years later is a huge achievement for me. It's a special day and I hope I can keep the ranking for a long time."

It will be the third-longest duration between stints at No.1 since the inception of the rankings. Here are the five greatest: