Osaka leaps to top in world women tennis rankings

PARIS: Naomi Osaka, winner of the Australian Open, has jumped to the top of women’s tennis with her beaten opponent Petra Kvitova rising to second in Monday’s WTA rankings. Osaka climbed three places after beating the Czech in Melbourne on Saturday. Kvitova moved up four places.

The 21-year-old Japanese player has only won three career titles, but those include the last two majors, after she won the US Open in September. Romanian former number one Simona Halep, knocked out by Serena Williams in the round of 16 in Melbourne, fell two spots to third. Dane Caroline Wozniacki, whose defence of her Australian Open title ended in the third round, fell six places to ninth.

The biggest rise of the week was by the 25-year-old American Danielle Collins who leaped 12 places to 23rd after her run to the semi-finals.

WTA rankings:

1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7,030 pts (+3)

2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 6,290 (+4)

3. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,582 (-2)

4. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5,307 (+1)

5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,100 (+3)

6. Angelique Kerber (GER) 4,965 (-4)

7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,940

8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,430 (+1)

9. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,566 (-6)

10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,485 (+1)

11. Serena Williams (USA) 3,406 (+5)

12. Darya Kasatkina (RUS) 3,355 (-2)

13. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3,330 (-1)

14. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 3,285 (+1)

15. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 3,035 (+3)

16. Julia Goerges (GER) 2,995 (-3)

17. Madison Keys (USA) 2,786

18. Wang Kiang (CHN) 2,605 (+3)

19. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 2,550

20. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2,355.