WTA world rankings: Barty keeps Osaka in check, Andreescu makes a leap forward
Miami winner Ashleigh Barty has claimed the lead in the WTA world rankings against Naomi Osaka. Final opponent Bianca Andreescu also benefited from her good performance in Florida.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Apr 05, 2021, 01:22 am
Before the start of the tournament in Miami, the women's world number one was up for grabs, but for a changing of the guard Naomi Osaka in Florida would have at least needed the finals. Even after the Japanese lost to Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals, it was clear that nothing would come of this, at least in the USA - and her opponent Ashleigh Barty even ensured with the tournament victory that the gap was only 150 points lower.
After her triumph two years ago in Miami, the Australian was ultimately unable to gain points, but Osaka came two rounds further this season than 2019 and thus reduced the gap in the WTA charts to 1201 points. The next opportunity to replace Barty as the world's number one will be the four-time Grand Slam winner on clay.
Andreescu made up three places
On the other hand, Bianca Andreescu is still a long way from number one in the world, but due to their finals in Miami the Canadians at least made up some ground. The 20-year-old jumped three positions up in the world rankings and is now sixth. Next to Barty and Osaka, only Simona Halep, Sofia Kenin and Elina Svitolina are placed in front of her.
#VIDEO#
Behind the world number six, Aryna Sabalenka and Serena Williams swapped places. The woman from Belarus is now in seventh place, the American in eighth. The big loser of the tournament in Miami was Karolina Pliskova, who slipped three places back to world number nine. The top ten are completed by Petra Kvitova.
Kerber in the race in 60th place
A few places behind Germany's top player Angelique Kerber (25th), two women can look forward to new personal records. Both Ons Jabeur (28th) and Jessica Pegula (29th) are better placed than ever before in their lives. The same applies to Jil Teichmann (40th), Sara Sorribes Tormo (48th), Ann Li (66th) Leylah Fernandez (71st) and Tereza Martincova (100th) in the top 100.
In the Race to Shenzhen, Osaka is still in the lead ahead of Garbine Mugurzua. Behind him is Barty, who made up six places with her victory in Miami and thus also displaced Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady to fourth. The rest of the quartet, which from the current perspective should play at the end of the year, consists of Elise Mertens, Sabalenka, Pegula and Williams. Kerber is in 60th place in this ranking.
You can find the current world rankings here
Click here for the booth in the Race to Shenzhen