WTA Rankings 2019: Osaka climbs to No.4, Riske back in Top 50
Naomi Osaka started 2019 with a run to the semifinals of the Brisbane International and has been rewarded for her efforts as she has climbed to WTA World No.4.
The US Open champion received a bye in the first round then recorded victories over Destanee Aiava and Anastasija Sevastova before succumbing to Lesia Tsurenko in the final four.
Nevertheless, she has jumped one spot on the ladder and has closed to within 200 points of Caroline Wozniacki, who remains third in an unchanged Top 3.
Alison Riske, who finished as runner-up in Shenzhen, was the big mover in the Top 100 as she jumped from WTA World No.62 up to World No.48 – 12 spots short of her career-best ranking.
Here are the other notable movers from an exciting first week to the year:
Sloane Stephens (+1, No.6 to No.5): The American might have lost in the first round of Brisbane to Johanna Konta but has still broken back into the Top 5.
Lesia Tsurenko (+3, No.27 to No.24): At a career-high ranking after her journey to the final in Brisbane, where she was beaten by Karolina Pliskova over three sets.
Donna Vekic (+5, No.34 to No.29): Another to start 2019 in her best-ever position after making the semifinals in Brisbane, where she beat both Kiki Bertens and Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Yafan Wang (+6, No.70 to No.64): Continues her upward movement in the Ranking after reaching the semifinals in Shenzhen, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. Also at her highest-ever rung.
Eugenie Bouchard (+8, No.87 to No.79): The Canadian continues to cement herself back into the Top 100 after reaching the quarterfinal in Auckland, where she narrowly lost to eventual champion Julia Goerges.
Monica Niculescu (+11, No.99 to No.88): A run to the quarterfinal in Shenzhen has seen the Romanian take a leap back up the standings.
Vera Zvonareva (+14, No.109 to No.95): Forced to retire injured from her Shenzhen semifinal with Alison Riske but given some small consolation as she is back in the Top 100.
Bianca Andreescu (+45, No.152 to No.107): The 18-year-old was the revelation of the first week of the year as she powered to the final of Auckland, defeating Timea Babos, Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams along the way.
