Ashleigh BARTY (AUS) Ashleigh BARTY (AUS) plays Karolina MUCHOVA (CZE) on Rod Laver Arena during Day 10 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Tennis Australia/ FIONA HAMILTON
Ash Barty has kept her No.1 world ranking thanks to a WTA technicality as Naomi Osaka has emerged as the form women’s player in tennis today.
A disappointing quarter-final defeat to Karolina Muchova has pulled the Aussie back to the rest of the chasing pack — but changes to the rankings system, because of OVID-19, is the reason Barty is still more than 1000 rankings points clear of Osaka.
Barty though, does fave an uphill battle to retain her tip spot for the next slam, in Paris.
The WTA changed the system used to calculate rankings points, and Barty remains on top because of her amazing end to the 2019 season.
Rather than the rolling 52-week window, the WTA has relied on a player’s best 16 results in tournaments since March 2019 to determine where they sit.
Andrey Rublev brought a halt to a painful loss streak lasting for nearly two months…
Carlos Alcaraz began his delayed clay season on Friday after a month of arm injury…
Rafael Nadal heads into his weekend clash at the Madrid Masters plagued by doubts over…
Iga Swiatek remains perplexed about the huge lack of influence top players have on WTA…
Coco Gauff powered to the first double bagel of her career on Thursday, opening play…
Rafael Nadal made a flying 6-1, 6-0 start on Thursday at his home Madrid Masters…