WTA Rankings 2019 Update: Kvitova up to third, Bencic in Top 25
Belinda Bencic’s dream push to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has seen her climb to WTA World No.23.
A Top 10 player back in 2016, the Swiss enjoyed the best week of her career to date to take out a succession of stars en route to winning her second WTA Tour title after the Canadian Open of 2015.
READ MORE: Bencic on trying to emulate Roger Federer
After overcoming No.8 seed Aryna Sabalenka in a dramatic third-set tiebreak, she went on to beat Top 10 players Simona Halep, Elina Svitolina and Petra Kvitova to lift the crown.
Her reward is a jump of 22 spots up the WTA Rankings.
Kvitova was beaten, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the final by the 21-year-old Swiss, yet the Czech also enjoyed a productive week, moving one place higher to WTA World No.3.
Like Bencic, the Czech also won a succession of three-set duels, defeating Katerina Siniakova, Jennifer Brady and Hsieh Su-Wei before eventually losing out at the last hurdle.
Here are the other notable movers from the last week:
Kiki Bertens (+1, No.8 to No.7): A new career high for the Dutchwoman, despite losing out in the round of 32 in Dubai.
Hsieh Su-Wei (+4, N.31 to No.27): Back at her best ever position following a dramatic run to the semifinals of Dubai, where she beat Angelique Kerber and Karolina Pliskova on back-to-back days.
Sofia Kenin (+2, No.37 to No.35): Wins over Mihaela Buzarnescu and No.11 seed Daria Kasatkina in Dubai have carried the American to a new high point in her career.
Alison Riske (+4, No.51 to No.47): In the Top 50 for the first time since September 2017 after reaching the last 16 in Dubai, where she notably took out No.13 seed Julia Goerges.
Marketa Vondrousova (+19, No.81 to No.62): The pain of losing the final of Budapest from a set up to Alison Van Uytvanck may be eased for the 19-year-old with a big jump in her ranking.
Anastasia Potapova (+15, No.87 to No.72): Reached the semis in Budapest before falling to Vondrousova but can be consoled by her best ranking to date in her young career.
Jennifer Brady (+23, No.117 to No.94): Back in the Top 100 after a four-month absence following her run to the last 16 in Dubai, where she was eventually beaten by Kvitova.
Sorana Cirstea (+10, No.108 to No.98): Leapt into the Top 100 thanks to her quarterfinal appearance in Budapest, where she beat No.4 seed Aleksandra Krunic.
Ylena In-Albon (+58, No.245 to No.183): The Swiss 19-year-old has smashed into the Top 200 for the first time after winning an ITF event in Kyoto.
