WTA Rankings Report – Oct. 12, 2020

ROLAND GARROS – Of the top 10, No. 1 Ashleigh Barty (who won Roland Garros 16 months ago), US Open champion Naomi Osaka and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu did not make the date in Paris.

And No. 10 Serena Williams had to pull out early with an ongoing Achilles issue.

But their absences did not really hurt them, because their 2019 results will stand. And so the only progress made came from finalist Sofia Kenin and semifinalist Petra Kvitova among the top 10.

Had they been there, the landscape might look fairly different. Barty would have been defending 2,000 ranking points – and she’s 1,500 ahead of No. 2 Simona Halep.

But it is what it is.

ON THE UPSWING

Sofia Kenin (USA): No. 6 ========> No. 4 (The American, who reached the final in Paris only to lose quickly to Iga Swiatek, ties the career high reached just before Indian Wells this year).

Petra Kvitova (CZE): No. 11 ========> No. 8 (Back in the top 10 after an emotional run in Paris that ended in the semifinals).

Iga Swiatek (POL): No. 54 ========> No. 17 (Into the top 20 with a bullet as the 19-year-old, unseeded, takes Roland Garros).

Shuai Zhang (CHN): No. 39 ========> No. 35 (One of the few Chinese players to compete since the resumption gets a bump).

Danielle Collins (USA): No. 57 ========> No. 46 (A solid Roland Garros, which ended in the quarters against Kenin).

Nadia Podoroska (ARG): No. 131 ========> No. 48 (Into the top 50 for the 23-year-old, who hopefully will get her own pic on the WTA Tour site after going from the qualies to the semifinals).

Laura Siegemund (GER): No. 66 ========> No. 50 (There was an opportunity in Paris, and the 32-year-old German took advantage).

Paula Badosa (ESP): No. 87 ========> No. 69 (The former Roland Garros junior champion reaches a career high after beating Sloane Stephens in the second round, and making the second week).

Martina Trevisan (ITA): No. 159 ========> No. 83 (Another qualifier made good, the 26-year-old from Italy leaps into the top 100 and should leave her qualifying days behind her).

Barbora Krejcikova (CZE): No. 115 ========> No. 85 (Better known for her doubles, the Czech reaches a career high after reaching the fourth round in Paris).

Leylah Fernandez (CAN): No. 100 ========> No. 89 (All the way to the third round against Petra Kvitova after upsetting Linette and Hercog – and a career high).

Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL): No. 157 ========> No. 132 (After three years away, the Bulgarian benefited from the withdrawal of Williams in the second round).

Sara Errani (ITA): No. 150 ========> No. 137 (She got through the qualies and very nearly defeated Kiki Bertens – even as she continues to struggle with the service yips).

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK): No. 161========> No. 138 (She knocked off Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka – then fell to Podoroska).

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN): No. 168 ========> No. 140 (Still a long way from where she was – but there’s light at the end of the tunnel and she can take solace in the fact that although she went out in the third round, she went out to the champion).

Clara Tauson (DEN): No. 188 ========> No. 155 (The 2019 Australian Open junior champion is coming, after qualifying in Paris. She’s at a career high).

Clara Burel (FRA): No. 357 ========> No. 240 (The young French wild card is inside the top 250 and at a career high after reaching the third round).

ON THE DOWNSWING

Karolina Pliskova (CZE): No. 4 ========> No. 6 (She’s still at No. 6. But it hasn’t been a resumption to write home about for the 28-year-old Czech).

Serena Williams (USA): No. 9 ========> No. 10 (Is the GOAT done for 2020? Seems like it).

Angelique Kerber (GER): No. 22 ========> No. 24 (The multiple Grand Slam champion was but a ghost during the back-to-back Grand Slams).

Sloane Stephens (USA): No. 34 ========> No. 39

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT): No. 48========> No. 54 (Out of the top 50 after being MIA in Paris).

Coco Gauff (USA): No. 51 ========> No. 55 (The 16-year-old is no longer surprising anyone, and she went down in the 2nd round to qualifier Trevisan).

Andrea Petkovic (GER): No. 95 ========> No. 100 (Just hanging in the top 100. But at least she’s back).