Petra Kvitova’s quarterfinal win over Ashleigh Barty has ended Simona Halep’s 48-week run atop the WTA rankings. Kvitova’s victory means that four names remain in the hunt for No.1 at Melbourne, including the Czech.
Kvitova, Naomi Osaka, Karolina Pliskova and Elina Svitolina all have a chance to finish the Australian Open with the No.1 ranking.
Osaka can pass Kvitova with a win on Wednesday when she faces Elina Svitolina. If Svitolina wins, Osaka would be eliminated but the Ukrainian would need to reach the final (at least) to get to No.1.
Pliskova needs to win the title to become No.1. Here are the updated points standings after Tuesday’s quarterfinals.
Kvitova wasn’t all that excited about her prospects of becoming No.1 after she defeated Ash Barty on Day 9. Clearly she has other matters to attend to, with a semifinal with Danielle Collins looming.
“I'm not really looking to the ranking,” she said. “Actually that's the first time what I'm hearing this. I don't really care, to be honest. I'm in the tournament, in a slam. I don't think there's any room here to think about it (pointing to head). In the next match, playing Danielle in the semifinal. That's what matters right now.”
Since the WTA rankings began in 1973, only 25 players have held the No.1 ranking.