New York ? Maria Sharapova will take this kind of wake-up call every day.

Sharapova awoke Monday to a phone call from her father saying, “Good morning, champion.” The Russian teen had taken over the WTA Tour’s No. 1 ranking from Lindsay Davenport, who had held the top spot since October.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of all my life,” Sharapova said. “It’s just an amazing fact to be No. 1 in world. Topping it off, I am the first Russian. I’m so excited that I could achieve it.”

Sharapova is the 15th player and the first Russian to be No. 1 since the tour began its computer rankings in 1975. At 18, she’s also the fifth youngest to hold the top spot.

The No. 1 ranking means she’ll likely be the top seed in the U.S. Open, which begins next Monday. The draw is Wednesday.

“It’s a good feeling to have going on the court knowing you’ve achieved this,” she said.

Davenport dropped a spot to No. 2. The Californian has been No. 1 for 82 weeks – although not consecutively – during her career.

Sharapova has made a stunning rise, climbing from outside the top 100 to No. 1 in a little over two years. She won Wimbledon at 17 in 2004, and has won six titles in the last 12 months. She also won the season-ending title at the Tour Championships last year.

She is 43-7 this year, and has reached at least the semifinals in eight of her last 11 WTA Tour events.