But the funny thing? Apparently the WTA knew and kept it under wraps:
Fans have been perplexed as to the reason for the WTA announcement that Serena Williams will lose the No. 1 ranking two Mondays from now on April 20, after the Charleston/Family Circle Cup event.
Serena played this week in Marbella, Spain, even with an injured thigh, losing first round. Turns out that Serena would have had to do very well in both Marbella and Charleston to retain the No. 1 ranking and keep Russian Dinara Safina from backing into the No. 1 spot for the first time in her career.
The WTA made the new-No. 1 announcement after Marbella, because they knew (yet has still not yet been announced officially — will happen later today according to WTA officials) that Serena would be withdrawing from Charleston.
Marbella and Charleston are worth less points than last year due to the WTA Tour’s calendar restructuring.
Well I guess it's not funny "ha ha" more like funny "fuck you fans who paid to go to Charleston only to have the top two players of 2009 pull out." Yeah, that kind of funny.
That said, perhaps this adds fuel to the rumor that Ana will be taking a wildcard into Charleston? I mean, they need more big names there and I can see the WTA twisting her very tan arm to do it.
