10 most viewed sportswomen of 2011-2012 on the Web

The internet has given humans a means to fulfill their desires. It’s the information and entertainment hub promising the uninhibited delivery of secretive pleasures, titillating chats, online movies, and forums for sharing ideas, opinions, debates – the list is endless.

But in the midst of all this myriad indulgence, human psychology predicts a definite pattern. A tendency to search the web for a female, for whatever reasons. Analyzing the results, apparently the primary factors inspiring this click on the name of a female star is majorly fame and next beauty, as you shall see for yourself soon.

Here’s a compiled list of the top 10 web-searched women on the planet.

From the results, one fact rings clear that sport is an avenue that takes a woman closer to a man’s heart, with the women tennis players being the most popular across the globe. Apparently the game’s antics have promoted a lot of goodwill in the male fan following, with seven of the top ten slots, including all the top five, occupied by them!

10) MARIA KIRILENKO

In the tenth place with 3.54 million results is the Russian tennis blonde MARIA KIRILENKO. She’s been one athlete like Andy Murray who has always promised a lot, but somehow faded into oblivion. An inspiring London Olympic performance in securing a bronze in the doubles for her country probably could be one of the key reasons helping her to the 10th position on this list. It sure helps that she has got some style to add to her substance.

9) HOPE SOLO

In the ninth place with 9.04 million results is the American Soccer goal-keeper HOPE SOLO. Quite befitting her name, she is the solo hope for an American soccer star on the list. While getting to the Olympics as an athlete itself puts one in the spotlight, nothing beats being a source of controversy there. She might not have too much to boast over the last season to demand her fame, but then infamy or rather her forthright frankness is too appealing a sight. Like an uncensored shot, no one could miss it!

8) ANA IVANOVIC

In the eighth position is yet another tennis beauty ANA IVANOVIC with 12.3 million results. The former No. 1 had a phenomenal run by her standards to boast for the season, apart from the truth that she’s a bewitching model on the circuit. It was that rare endearing bloom from her racquet when she made it to the quarters in the US Open ’12 after a four-year drought at the slams. That apart, the real reason for her popularity this summer might be her scorching provocative shots at Wimbledon ’12, not from her racquet though!

7) DANICA PATRICK

With 14.5 million results, the American auto racing driver DANICA PATRICK takes the seventh slot. Complementing her dangerous curves on the tracks are those fashioning her modeling drives outside, in addition to her expertise as an advertising spokeswoman. All compelling factors combined to help the racing protégé race right into the viewer’s clicks.

6) LINDSEY VONN

LINDSEY VONN with 22.6 million results takes the sixth slot. A stunning star with stellar looks, this American alpine ski deserves her fame. Besides, completing a record-setting race season in May, the greatest by a woman in the history of the Alpine skiing’s World Cup, is by no means a small feat. Despite her sport’s regional appeal, her walk to this level of popularity shows the worthy demand of her stardom and achievements.

5) VENUS WILLIAMS

One of the respected performers on the women’s tennis circuit, VENUS WILLIAMS takes the fifth place with 30.5 million results. She certainly has not had the best of seasons individually but it sure helps when you’ve got a legendary sister combining to form a team that is unbeatable. Some stirring Olympic performances and a great season for her sibling Serena meant that she got a minor share of the popularity enjoyed by the other. If you think her 30.5 million is minor, wait till we catch up with Serena.

4) ANNA KOURNIKOVA

Another Russian blonde, although now retired from the sport due to career threatening back injuries, is ANNA KOURNIKOVA with 36.7 million results in the fourth position. She’s probably the only non-performing professional on the list. But well, when you got someone of that caliber who seduced as much with looks as her play, lower expectations would be a crime. As I see it, probably her benign ‘sari (hindi) show in the saree’ when she visited India last year put the spotlight back on this retired beauty.

3) CAROLINE WOZNIACKI

In the third place, it’s CAROLINE WOZNIACKI with 37.2 million results. With a genteel aura that backs her awesome game, she’s been my favorite on the women’s side. But she will have to settle for third place given that she dropped from the No. 1 position in the WTA rankings with no Slams to back her cause as a legend. Yet a flurry of titles bereft of the Slams means that she always end up on the search list, either for her game or her looks.

The tale of the remaining two captures the inspirational hope of classic comeback!

2) MARIA SHARAPOVA

In the second place is the iconic Russian blonde MARIA SHARAPOVA with 54.7 million results. Sharapova seemed to have faded away, post some exhibition of teenage genius. But now that the princess has come of age with some authoritative display of her game, I guess there is no one complaining about her resurgence! With a French Open title this year, a title that seemed elusive amidst all her silverware, the tiara sat well upon this most paid brand’s head. Still, she will have to settle for second position, paling in comparison to the Numero uno for now.

1) SERENA WILLIAMS

In the first place we have SERENA WILLIAMS with a record of 125 million results. Yes, that’s more than twice the amount of the next best! The reasons are apparent. It’s been a tale of resurgence from her injuries with a new found aura of invincibility that’s reduced the best of the rest to non-starters. She got to work zealously, grabbing all the glory with stirring performances, be it national duty or personal milestones.

And for the three who missed it.

In the eleventh position it’s again a tennis starlet PETRA KVITOVA with 2.59 million results. A wonderful season of some remarkable performances inclusive of a first brush with the romance of a Slam final made sure she reached this far. Probably her loss there accounted for her loss here too!

The twelfth place is reserved for the golfing great MICHELLE WIE. She has for sure swung her way to some delightful stardom, but as with her game, probably just missed the hole by 2 paces.

And finally, in the 13^th position, it’s GINA CARANO with 2.15 million results. I for sure was hoping for a better demand for this multi-faceted persona – she’s an American actress, television personality, fitness model and a former mixed martial artist.