Osaka returns to top three after seeing off Barty in Beijing

By
AFP
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Naomi Osaka's win over Ashleigh Barty in Beijing sees her climb back into the WTA top three. Photo: AFP

Naomi Osaka´s win over world number one Ashleigh Barty in Beijing at the weekend lifted the Japanese player back into the top three in the new WTA rankings released on Monday.

It meant back-to-back WTA Tour titles for the 21-year-old, who won the Australian Open in January, but then failed to match those high standards at the next three Grand Slams.

French Open winner Barty retains top spot and even extends her lead following the failure of Karolina Pliskova to get past the first round in China.

Osaka´s rise to three means Elina Svitolina, quarter-finalist in Beijing, slips to four.

US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who lost a thrilling quarter-final to Osaka last week, also climbs a place to number five pushing Simona Halep down to six.

ATP Rankings as of October 7:

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 7,096 pts

2. Karolína Plísková (CZE) 6,015

3. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5,621 (+1)

4. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,525 (-1)

5. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 5,041 (+1)

6. Simona Halep (ROU) 4,962 (-1)

7. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 4,776

8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,495

9. Serena Williams (USA) 3,935

10. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 3,848

11. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3,063

12. Sloane Stephens (USA) 2,818

13. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2,775

14. Madison Keys (USA) 2,767 (+1)

15. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2,615 (+1)

16. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 2,580 (-2)

17. Petra Martic (CRO) 2,517

18. Marketa Vondroisova (CZE) 2,390 (+3)

19. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,290 (+4)

20. Alison Riske (USA) 2,185 (+4)