Clijsters takes top ranking from Wozniacki

PARIS - Belgian Kim Clijsters gained the WTA number one ranking for the third time in her career with a 6-3, 6-0 quarter-final win over Australian Jelena Dokic Friday at the Paris Indoor event.

Clijsters, a four-time Grand Slam winner, will take over the number one position from the Dane Caroline Wozniacki Monday, ending the controversy of top-ranked players earning the spot without winning a major title.

Wozniacki had followed Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic as a number one without a Grand Slam crown dating to 2008.

“I am very happy to be number one again,” said Clijsters, a mother of one, who quit the game in 2007 to have a child and then returned to win 2009 and 2010 US Opens and the Australian title a fortnight ago.

“I hope I can also win the tournament maybe.”

The experienced Clijsters, who first moved into the top spot in 2003 and did it again in 2006, said the moment was “a nice feeling but it does not change anything for me personally.”