ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA -- Two new players ascended to the summit of the WTA doubles rankings, as the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova claimed the WTA World No.1 doubles ranking on Monday for the first time in their careers.
Krejcikova and Siniakova, both 22 years old, become the 40th and 41st women to sit atop the doubles rankings since WTA Rankings were introduced in 1975. They also become the 14th pair to hold co-World No.1 status. They are now the fifth and sixth Czech women to reach the top doubles ranking, joining Helena Sukova (1990), Jana Novotna (1990), Kveta Peschke (2011) and Lucie Safarova (2017).
“We’re very excited to be the new WTA World No.1 doubles players,” said Siniakova. “It’s always been our goal to reach No.1 and to finally make it is a great feeling.”
Krejcikova added: “Winning our first Grand Slams this year was a big accomplishment and now to become No.1 is another dream come true.”
The all-Czech duo clinched their first two Grand Slam doubles titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, becoming the first team to lift both trophies in the same year in 15 years (Kim Clijsters and Ai Sugiyama achieved this feat in 2003). Having also won the junior Wimbledon doubles title in 2013, they became the first team to ever win both the girls’ and ladies’ doubles title at the All England Club.
Krejcikova and Siniakova reached an additional two doubles finals this season at the Shenzhen Open and the Miami Open, helping the team secure the first doubles qualification at the 2018 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The team was also voted the 2018 WTA Doubles Team of the Year by international media.
Read more: 2018 WTA Doubles Team of the Year: Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova
“Barbora and Katerina have had a remarkable season and have earned the honor of holding WTA World No.1 doubles ranking,” said WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Congratulations to Barbora and Katerina on achieving this incredible milestone in their careers.”
Krejcikova owns three WTA doubles titles from eight finals, including her and Siniakova’s two Grand Slams this season, as well as the Coupe Banque Nationale presentee par IGA in Quebec City in 2015 alongside An-Sophie Mestach. She also won the WTA $125K Series event in Limoges in 2015, pairing Mandy Minella.
Siniakova is the owner of four WTA doubles titles and has advanced to nine additional finals in her career. Aside from her two Grand Slam trophies, the Czech has also reached the championship match at the 2017 US Open and made her first Premier Mandatory final at the 2017 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, both with Lucie Hradecka.
