Sharapova to take No.1 ranking
Sharapova to take No.1 ranking 
From correspondents in Rome, Italy
Former Australian Captain May 16, 2008
RUSSIAN Maria Sharapova will be the new women’s world No.1 when the WTA rankings are released on Tuesday (EST), the WTA said in a statement.
Justine Henin’s decision to retire from professional tennis with immediate effect means she will be removed from the rankings as of next week.
And Sharapova, the current No.2 who is playing at the Rome International, will take over the top spot for the fourth time.
Belgian Henin had spent 117 weeks in total and is the sixth-longest reigning No.1 since the inception of computer rankings in November 1975.
Sharapova will thus commence her 15th week at No.1 having first held the position in August 2005.
The 21-year-old is the only Russian and one of only 16 women to have held the No.1 spot.
She started the season in fine form lifting the Australian Open before also claiming titles in Doha and Amelia Island.
Agence France-Presse