Victoria Azarenka has broken back into the WTA Top 50 for the first time since taking maternity leave.

The Belarusian star has been hovering just outside of this bracket for several weeks but her push to the second round of St Petersburg last week, where she was ultimately beaten by Petra Kvitova, has been enough for her to jump to her highest ranking since March 2017.

She now finds herself as the WTA World No.48.

Meanwhile, compatriot Aryna Sabalenka’s run to the semifinals of the same event has helped her claim a career-best WTA World No.9 ranking.

The 20-year-old Belarusian overcame Alison Van Uytvanck and Ekaterina Alexandrova en route to the final four in the Russian tournament, where she was finally defeated by No.2 seed Kiki Bertens.

Despite that disappointment, Sabalenka, who only broke into the Top 10 seven days ago, has gathered enough points to leapfrog Caroline Wozniacki.

Here are the other notable movers from the last week:

Ashleigh Barty (+1, No.14 to No.13): The Australian was not active but has climbed to a career-best on the ladder.

Donna Vekic (+5, No.35 to No.30): Enjoyed a productive week in St Petersburg, where she reached the final as the No.8 seed. Beat in-form WTA World No.2 Petra Kvitova along the way.

Dayana Yastremska (+13, No.47 to No.34): Picked up the Hua Hin title, dropping only a single set all week, beating No.1 seed Garbiñe Muguruza on the way. This is her best-ever ranking.

Ajla Tomljanovic (+8, No.49 to No.41): Beaten by Yastremska in the Hua Hin showpiece, the 25-year-old is another who has climbed to a new high.

Tamara Zidansek (+11, No.74 to No.63): A run to the semifinals of Hua Hin has pushed the 21-year-old Slovenian into the Top 65 for the first time.

Ekaterina Alexandrova (+13, No.78 to No.65): Yet another player touching hitherto unknown heights, the Russian came through St Petersburg qualifying to reach the quarterfinals. 

Vera Zvonareva (+21, No.97 to No.76): At her highest ranking since October 14, 2012, the 34-year-old enjoyed a superb run to the semifinals of St Petersburg, where she beat Julia Goerges and Daria Kasatkina.

Katie Boulter (+5, No.88 to No.83): The British No.2 has hit a career-high ranking after winning a couple of rounds of qualifying in St Petersburg, where she played the first round as a lucky loser, going down in three sets to Alexandrova. 

Jessica Pegula (+11, No.104 to No.93): The 24-year-old has broken into the Top 100 for the first time after reaching the final of an ITF even in Miami, where she notably beat Christina McHale.

Veronika Kudermetova (+10, No.108 to No.98): Took advantage of her status as a lucky loser to reach the last 16 in St Petersburg, where she lost out to Vekic. Another Top 100 debutante.

Mandy Minella (+2, No.101 to No.99): Lost out in a marathon first-round match to Zheng Shuai in Hua Hin but consoled by her return to the Top 100 for the first time since taking maternity leave in July 2017.

Tereza Martincova (+28, No.171 to No.153): Powered through St Petersburg qualifying and made it to the last 16, beating Yulia Putintseva on the way.

Varvara Flink (+36, No.203 to No.167): Claimed the glory at an ITF event in Kazan, not dropping any more than three games in any single set along the way. 

Maryna Zanevska (+24, No.217 to No.193): Beat Marta Kostyuk as she reached the semifinal of Launceston, an ITF event.  

Kristie Ahn (+22, No.220 to No.198): Reached the quarterfinals in Midland on the ITF Tour, where Rebecca Peterson had too much for her.

Han Na-Lae (+22. No.222 to No.200): Did not drop a set on the way to reaching the final of the ITF event in Singapore last week before falling to Zhu Lin in the final.