Strong field in Tokyo could affect ranking

Posted on Sep 24, 2012 in Sports | 0 comments

Nine of the Top 10 women”s tennis players in the world are in Tokyo for the Toray Pan Pacific Open with world No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska out to defend her title.

The only Top 10 player not on hand in Tokyo is Serena Williams, ranked fourth. The others will be looking to move up in the rankings as the tennis year winds down.

World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has held the top spot for 31 weeks, which is 11th most since the rankings began in November 1975. She has 10,265 points, well ahead of No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova, who has 8,435 and Radwanska”s total of 8295. Williams has 7,900.

Petra Kvitova comes in at No. 5 with 6,690 while Angelique Kerber (5,085) is sixth and Sara Errani takes the seventh spot at 4,755. Li Na (4,526) sits in eighth with Samantha Stosur (4,200) is in ninth and Marion Bartoli (3,800) is 10th.

Caroline Wozniacki won the KDB Korea Open on Sunday but remains 11th with 3,595 points. She also won a first-round match Monday in Tokyo.

The other WTA winner last week was Hsieh Su-Wei, whose championship at the Guangzhou International Women”s Open, moves her from 53rd to a career-high No. 39 as of Monday.

Copyright 2012 by United Press International