Three of the top performers from the first week of the 2012 season were rewarded with notable rises on Monday's rankings.
Brisbane runner-up Daniela Hantuchova went from No.24 to No.21, just short of returning to the Top 20 for the first time since November 2008. She was a first round loser last year at Sydney and the Australian Open, so has the chance to accumulate significant points in the coming weeks and ascend further.
Hantuchova's conqueror in the Brisbane final, Kaia Kanepi, jumped from No.34 to No.26, a move that was especially significant because it confirmed her as a seed at the Australian Open. She has been outside the Top 20 since July 2011 and also could pick up a lot of points with a strong showing in Melbourne, having fallen in the second round there last year.
Auckland champion Zheng Jie, out of the Top 20 since April 2010, climbed from No.48 to No.38. She did not play in the Australian Open last year, so also could collect major points with a good performance there.
Here is a chart showing how much time this trio has spent in the Top 20:
| Player | Weeks In Top 20 | Career-High (Date Achieved) |
| Daniela Hantuchova | 261 | No.5 (January 27, 2003) |
| Kaia Kanepi | 33 | No.16 (February 14, 2011) |
| Zheng Jie | 27 | No.15 (May 18, 2009) |
Meanwhile, the No.1 ranking is up for grabs this week in Sydney. If Petra Kvitova wins the title, she will become the 21st player in WTA history to hold the No.1 ranking. If she falls short of the title, Caroline Wozniacki, a possible opponent for the Czech in the final, will hold on to the top spot.
