adminPARIS. – Australian Open tennis winner Serena Williams replaced Angelique Kerber as world number one in the latest WTA rankings released yesterday.
The American moved up one place courtesy of her victory in Melbourne where she got the better of sister Venus 6-4, 6-4 in the final on Saturday for a record 23rd Grand Slam title.
Kerber’s defence of her Australian Open crown ended with a last 16 loss to Coco Vandeweghe with the German now down to second and her American nemesis up 15 rungs to 20th.
Melbourne quarter-finalist Karolina Pliskova climbs two spots to third.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer has also climbed back into the ATP top 10 on the strength of his epic 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
The 35-year-old Swiss great defied old rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday in a thrilling five-setter in Melbourne to move up seven spots to 10th in the latest rankings released yesterday.
Nadal, beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, moved up three places to sixth in the list still dominated by early Australian Open victims Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Stan Wawrinka, defeated in the semis last week by Federer, is up one in third. Germany’s Mischa Zverev, who upset Murray in the fourth round in Melbourne, soared 15 places to 35th, his best ever ranking.
Zverev’s teenaged brother Alexander climbed two rungs to 22nd after making it to the third round where he lost to Nadal.
WTA rankings on Monday,
January 30
1. Serena Williams (USA) 7,780 pts (+1)
2. Angelique Kerber (GER) 7,115 (-1)
3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,270 (+2)
4. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,073
5. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 4,985 (+1)
6. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 4,915 (-3)
7. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4,720
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 3,915 (+2)
10. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3,705 (-1)
11. Venus Williams (USA) 3,530 (+6)
12. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 3,415 (-1)
13. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 2,955
14. Carla Suarez (ESP) 2,625 (-2)
15. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 2,347
16. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 2,357 (+2)
17. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 2,295 (-1)
18. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2,295 (+2)
19. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 2,161 (-5)
20. Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 2,136 (+15)
Latest ATP rankings on Monday, January 30
1. Andy Murray (GBR) 11,540 pts
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 9,825
3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 5,695 (+1)
4. Milos Raonic (CAN) 4,930 (-1)
5. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 4,830
6. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 4,385 (+3)
7. Marin Cilic (CRO) 3,560
8. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 3,505
9. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 3,445 (-3)
10. Roger Federer (SUI) 3,260 (+7)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,930
12. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 2,790 (-2)
13. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2,765 (+2)
14. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 2,685 (-2)
15. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 2,415 (-2)
16. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,350 (-2)
17. Lucas Pouille (FRA) 2,131 (-1)
18. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 1,975
19. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 1,875 (+2)
20. Jack Sock (USA) 1,855
Selected
22. Alexander Zverev (GER) 1,735 (+2)
35. Mischa Zverev (GER) 1,238 (+15) – AFP.
Online Reporter