Serena Williams has climbed up to WTA World No.10, the first time that she has enjoyed a spot in the Top 10 since taking a year out from the game to start a family.

The 37-year-old American has not played since reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open but has benefited from other players failing to defend their ranking points.

READ MORE: WTA Top 10 and their best 2019 results

It is the first time she has been in the Top 10 since dropping down to WTA World No.15 in July 2017, midway through her time away from the game.

She dipped as low as WTA World No.491 but since returning to the Tour 11 months ago in Indian Wells has made a rapid ascent, notably reaching the final of the US Open.

The other big mover in the Top 20 is Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who climbed five spots to become WTA World No.16 after winning a thrilling Qatar Total Open final against Simona Halep.

Here are the other notable movers from the last week:

Simona Halep (+1, No.3 to No.2): The Romanian reached the final of Doha and won the battle to become WTA World No.2.

Sloane Stephens (+1, No.4 to No.3): In the Top 3 for the first time, although she did not play last week.

Ashleigh Barty (+1, No.13 to No.12): Was inactive last week but the Australian is up to a new career-best ranking.

Ajla Tomljanovic (+1, No.41 to No.40): Another Australian to reach a career high without taking to the court.

Vitalia Diatchenko (+29, No.127 to No.98): The big mover in the Top 100 is the Russian, who beat Yanina Wickmayer in the final of an ITF event in Shrewsbury, Great Britain.

CoCo Vandeweghe (+2, No.102 to No.100): On her way back from injury and back in the Top 100, despite not playing.

Karolina Muchova (+29, No.132 to No.103): A run to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open means the Czech is on the verge of the Top 100 for the first time.