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Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka in staggering blow after Aus Open

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Ash Barty, pictured here at the Australian Open.
Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have fallen massively in the rankings after Ash Barty's Australian Open triumph. Image: Getty

Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka were the big losers when the WTA updated its rankings this week following the Australian Open.

Ash Barty's achievement in becoming the first Australian in 44 years to win their home grand slam has seen her consolidate her place as World No.1.

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The 25-year-old has increased her lead over Aryna Sabalenka - who exited in the fourth round of the Australian Open - to over 2600 points.

However it's bad news for Williams and Osaka, who have both suffered massive rankings drops.

Williams has fallen to a staggering 244th in the world following her absence from the Australian Open.

Because she made the semi-finals in 2021 she was defending a massive swathe of points, and her withdrawal from the first grand slam of the year means she has taken a huge hit in the rankings.

Williams hasn't played since retiring hurt in the first round of Wimbledon with a leg injury after slipping on the wet surface.

She subsequently withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics and US Open and opted not to travel to Australia for the Melbourne Park grand slam.

As for Osaka, the four-time grand slam champion has also taken a huge hit, falling to World No.85.

Naomi Osaka, pictured here after her loss to Amanda Anismova at the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka leaves the court after her loss to Amanda Anismova at the Australian Open. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

The Japanese star was also defending huge points after winning the Australian Open in 2021, but suffered a shock third round loss to Amanda Anisimova this year.

Osaka also missed most of the second half of 2021, opting to take a break from the game to protect her mental health.

Fellow grand slam champions Sofia Kenin and Venus Williams have also tumbled down the rankings to World No.94 and 461 respectively.

American tennis writer Christopher Clarey said it was "hard to believe" the rankings falls of Williams and Osaka.

Meanwhile, Danielle Collins' consolation for losing to Barty in the Australian Open final is her highest ever ranking.

The 28-year-old American has soared 20 places to World No.10.

Poland's Iga Swiatek - who Collins beat in the Australian Open semi-finals - has also risen to her highest-ever ranking, moving up five spots to fourth.

The Czech Republic's French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova also moves up one place to third.

However there are differing fortunes for two second round losers in Melbourne.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza drops four places to seventh, whereas Britain's US Open champion Emma Raducanu rises five to her best-ever ranking of 13th.

WTA Rankings

1. Ash Barty (AUS) 8331 points

2. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 5698

3. Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) 5533 (+1)

4. Iga Swiatek (POL) 4456 (+5)

5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 4452

6. Paula Badosa (ESP) 4429

7. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4195 (-4)

8. Maria Sakkari (GRE) 4071

9. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 3871 (-2)

10. Danielle Collins (USA) 3071 (+20)

11. Ons Jabeur (TUN) 3070 (-1)

12. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 2705

13. Emma Raducanu (GBR) 2664 (+5)

14. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 2638 (-3)

15. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 2531 (+2)

16. Jessica Pegula (USA) 2474 (+5)

17. Cori Gauff (USA) 2425 (-1)

18. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 2396 (+7)

19. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 2355 (+3)

20. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2287

with agencies

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