Top 5 Most Googled WTA Players for 2009

By using Google's search volume index, one can check the volume of searches done on a particular keyword. If the names of WTA players are used as search parameters, Google displays a graph depicting the volume of searches done on a player over a period of time. By using this tool, I was able to extract the top 5 most "googled" WTA tour players for this year. Three of the top 5 players were expected – the other two were not. Among the two, one is a retired tennis player. The other one is not even ranked in the top 50. Here are the findings:

#5. ANNA KOURNIKOVA

Top Search Month/s: June
Top Topic/s: Alleged involvement in bar brawl

Top Countries Searching:
(1) India (2) Netherlands (3) Finland (4) Canada (5) United States

#4. SANIA MIRZA

Top Search Month/s: June & July
Top Topic/s: Arrests done in Mirza's Hyberadad home

Top Countries Searching:
(1) Pakistan (2) India (3) Bangladesh (4) UAE (5) Saudi Arabia

#3. ANA IVANOVIC

Top Search Month/s: January, May, June
Top Topic/s: January – Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon results (or non-results)

Top Countries Searching:
(1) Yugoslavia (2) Bosnia and Herzegovina (3) Australia (4) Philippines (5) India

#2. MARIA SHARAPOVA

Top Search Month/s: May, June, August
Top Topic/s: May – French Open quarterfinal run, June – Sharapova upset in Wimbledon early rounds, August – Reached finals in Canada

Top Countries Searching:
(1) India (2) Philippines (3) Indonesia (4) Malaysia (5) Chile

#1. SERENA WILLIAMS

Top Search Month/s: January, July, September
Top Topic/s: January – wins Australian Open for 10th grand slam, July – wins Wimbledon singles and doubles, September – US Open outburst

Top Countries Searching:
(1) South Africa (2) India (3) United States (4) Canada (5) Australia

My observations:
- India is present on all top countries searching for all those who made the top 5 list
- Mirza generates more interest than all other players in the top 50 save for Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams
- Russia has 2 players in the top 5
- Kournikova is more popular worldwide than other top and higher ranking players such as Venus Williams, Dinara Safina, and all other players in the top 10 save for Serena
- Serena's US Open outburst was the hottest search topic for the year

To learn which players made the top 10 and top 16, and to check how I came out with the rankings, visit this accompanying post: Most Googled WTA Tennis Players