The Women's Tennis Association chief has defended the sport's ranking system, which will show the Dane Caroline Wozniacki as the world number one next week, despite never having won a major title.
The 20-year-old will become Denmark's first world number one after winning five titles this year, and topples the 13-times grand slam champion Serena Williams.
The WTA chief Stacey Allister says the ranking system rewards athletes for 12 months of consistent performance, and Wozniacki has earned the number one spot.
Allister says the Dane has won more matches than anyone else, and while the ranking debate will go on forever, Wozniacki deserves the acclaim.
The former number one Serena Williams hasn't played a competitive match since winning Wimbledon in July, and will make her comeback in Austria next week.
Williams had to undergo surgery after badly cutting her foot on broken glass at a restaurant.
The year-end top ranking will likely be decided at the Tour Championships in Doha later this month.
