WTA Rankings: Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova maintain advantage
The updated WTA ranking list saw two changes in the top-10, with Belinda Bencic and Bianca Andresscu moving ahead of Elina Svitolina. Ashleigh Barty is still world no. 1, winning the title in Adelaide and reaching the semi-final at the Australian Open to build a massive lead over her rivals. Ashleigh had to withdraw from this week's Dubai event with a foot injury, taking more time off the court and hoping to return as soon as possible. Another Australian Open semi-finalist Simona Halep is the top seed in Dubai, seeking deep run and more points on her tally, standing almost 2600 points behind Ashleigh in the battle for the throne.
Brisbane champion Karolina Pliskova is the second seed in Dubai, eager to bounce back after a short campaign in Melbourne and reduce the deficit to rivals in front of her, with 500 points deficit to Halep. The defending Dubai champion Belinda Bencic is in the top-4 for the first time despite not playing at her best in the opening events of the season, standing 65 points ahead of the US Open winner Bianca Andreescu who is back inside the top-5 despite not playing since the WTA Finals. Elina Svitolina is on a mediocre 4-4 score in 2020 so far, dropping two places to leave the top-5, seeking better run in Dubai and the first serious points of the season.
Sofia Kenin, Kiki Bertens (withdrew from Dubai after winning St. Petersburg), Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka complete the top-10 company, with the rivals behind them looking to pass some of them and join the elite group. The 20-year-old Elena Rybakina is in the top-20 for the first time, already reaching three WTA finals in 2020 and facing Sofia Kenin in a blockbuster opening round in Dubai.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2uXMHd1
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