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Karolina Pliskova closes gap on world number one Ashleigh Barty in WTA rankings
Karolina Pliskova has become the second singles player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Shenzhen after top-ranked Ash Barty, the WTA Tour said on Monday.
Karolina Plikosva’s victory at the Zhengzhou Open at the weekend means the Czech is now just 86 points behind Ashleigh Barty who remains at the top of the WTA rankings released on Monday.
Pliskova claimed her fourth title of the year as she defeated Petra Martic in a rain-disrupted final in Zhengzhou on Sunday.
After the 6-3, 6-2 win, the 27-year-old said that taking top spot from the Australian was “not my goal for now”.
“My goal is to play well, which I’m trying to play. So that’s my goal for now and to enjoy and to (not) really stress about results,” she said.
There were no other changes in the top 25.
WTA rankings as of September 16:
1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 6,501 pts
2. Karolína Pliskova (CZE) 6,415
3. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,131
4. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 4,846
5. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4,835
6. Simona Halep (ROU) 4,803
7. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4,326
8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,325
9. Serena Williams (USA) 3,935
10. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 3,738
11. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3,115
12. Qiang Wang (CHN) 2,893
13. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 2,785
14. Sloane Stephens (USA) 2,769
15. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2,750
16. Madison Keys (USA) 2,727
17. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2,597
18. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 2,517
19. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2,500
20. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2,450
