Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns the ball to Flavia Pennetta of Italy in the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing. REUTERS

Despite losing 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, to Russian Vera Zvonareva on Wednesday, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki confirms her position at the top of the WTA women's singles tennis rankings. The Dane, who has spent almost the entire season at the top of the pile (she was displaced briefly by Belgian Kim Clijsters), is currently playing the season-ending $4.9 million WTA Championships in Turkey.

According to a report from Reuters, the only player who, mathematically, could have usurped Wozniacki's crown was another Russian, Maria Sharapova. The Russian lost on the same day, 6-7, 4-6, to China's Li Na in the White Group, to end all hopes of her overtaking Wozniacki.

Wozniacki, 21, will now face 2011 Wimbledon single's champion Petra Kvitova on Thursday and must win her final group game to make it to the semi-finals. However, she was obviously delighted to be confirmed as the World No.1, pushing aside thoughts of Wednesday's loss. Wozniacki will now finish the season as the No.1 women's singles tennis player in the world, regardless of her performances in Turkey.