It has finally been confirmed:
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/serena-guaranteed-no-1-year-end-ranking/49290/
She can gain points in Beijing and is defending points at the YEC. She does have a few points to defend early in the year, but she has a lot she can gain in Australia and Wimbledon. She doesn't really have as much to defend as other players early on in the season until Miami and beyond. So it looks like with this YE#1 locked down, she is pretty much on target to pass Monica Seles and move into the top 5 of all time weeks at number 1. Depending on how she does next year maybe even passing Hingis is doable.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/serena-guaranteed-no-1-year-end-ranking/49290/
She can gain points in Beijing and is defending points at the YEC. She does have a few points to defend early in the year, but she has a lot she can gain in Australia and Wimbledon. She doesn't really have as much to defend as other players early on in the season until Miami and beyond. So it looks like with this YE#1 locked down, she is pretty much on target to pass Monica Seles and move into the top 5 of all time weeks at number 1. Depending on how she does next year maybe even passing Hingis is doable.