On top of the world: Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is the new world No 1 while runner-up Maria Sharapova rises to No 3.

Some major musical chairs takes place at the top of the women's rankings, reflective of the state of flux that this side of tennis finds itself in.

After her humiliation of Maria Sharapova on Saturday in the Australian Open final, 22 year-old Victoria Azarenka becomes the 21st world No 1 since the computer sparked into action in 1975.


And for the first time there are four first-time Grand Slam winners in possession of the sport's major titles in women's tennis, another indication that we are likely to see a changing of eras by the end of 2012.
After three hours sleep and a night on the tiles, Azarenka was still pumped enough on Sunday to declare that "I'm so hungry for more titles," and it would not be a surprise if she were to add at least one more Slam this season.

She is at the right age and clearly on an upward curve, but it would also need to be said that there has been greater competition around at other junctures of the women's game's history.

Sharapova, despite having her lack of movement exposed in the course of a disappointing 6-3, 6-0 defeat, actually goes up to No 3, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova stays at two while poor Caroline Wozniacki takes a rare old tumble, going down to No 4 from No 1.
With tickets for the final costing upwards of £170 each it was hardly surprising that there were around 1500 empty seats on the Rod Laver Arena, even in sports-mad and wealthy Melbourne, which may partly tell you of Australians' distaste for the two players' grunting.

Beyond that thorny issue Azarenka has a sunny personality and there is every chance that she will be the one stepping in to the superstar gap that will surely open up in the next two years as Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters fade away.

Clijsters has been reduced to world No 30 by losing her title and will need to repair her ranking to avoid meeting the best players too early in the three remaining Grand Slams she plans to play in before retiring.