In the Sanex WTA Tour rankings released Monday, Davenport replaced Martina Hingis as No. 1. Hingis defeated Davenport 6-3, 6-2 Sunday to win the Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.
``She deserves the No. 1 spot now,'' Hingis said after snapping a five-match losing streak to Davenport.
Rankings are determined on results over the past 52 weeks.
``I think it's been exciting the last few weeks with the race between Martina and I at No. 1,'' Davenport said. ``Now Martina is going to try to get it back.''
It's the third time Davenport has been ranked No. 1, and her 23rd week in the top spot. She was ranked No. 1 from Aug. 12, 1998, to Feb. 7, 1999, and from July 5, 1999, until Aug. 8, 1999.
Davenport's only other loss this year was to Amelie Mauresmo in the final at Sydney, Australia, the first tournament of 2000.
There were two other changes in the Top 10.
Monica Seles, despite the worst loss of her career, 6-0, 6-0 to Hingis in the semifinals at Key Biscayne, moved up one spot to No. 7 in the rankings, trading places with Conchita Martinez.
Sandrine Testud, who lost to Davenport in the semifinals, advanced three spots to No. 10.