Williams still reigns as No 1 in WTA rankings, set to break Graf’s record

Serena Williams held onto the No 1 spot in the WTA world rankings yesterday, after Angelique Kerber slipped to defeat against Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Cincinnati hardcourt tournament.

Germany’s Kerber would have ended 22-time major champion Williams’ run of 184 consecutive weeks as world No 1 if she had claimed the title.

But the reigning Australian Open champion was beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Czech Pliskova, who moves up from 17th to 11th.

American Williams, who withdrew from her Cincinnati title defence with an injury, is now just three weeks away from breaking Steffi Graf’s record for the longest stint at the top of the rankings.

The only change in the top 10 sees Agnieszka Radwanska retake fourth spot from Simona Halep, who was beaten by Kerber in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Croatia’s Marin Cilic moved back into the top 10 of the ATP world rankings on Monday, thanks to his victory over Andy Murray in the Cincinnati Masters final.

Former US Open winner Cilic ended Briton Murray’s 22-match winning streak with a straight-sets win on Sunday and jumped up five places in the rankings to ninth.
Two-time major champion Stanislas Wawrinka moved above his injured fellow Swiss Roger Federer to become the new world No 3.

Serbian Novak Djokovic still holds a massive lead at the top of the rankings, despite not playing in the US last week.

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