Paris (AFP)

Thanks to her success in Brisbane, the Czech Karolina Pliskova, second in the WTA ranking, has reduced the gap separating her from the current number one, the Australian Ashley Barty.

Beaten in two sets when she entered the running in Brisbane by the American Jennifer Brady, 53rd in the WTA ranking, Barty nevertheless still maintains a comfortable lead of 1607 points compared to Pliskova, victorious for the third time in this Australian tournament.

The Japanese Naomi Osaka, aligned in Brisbane, resumed her third place at the expense of the Romanian Simona Halep, who preferred to enter the Adelaide tournament which opened on Monday.

The American Serena Williams (9th) also won a place thanks to her success in Auckland, her first title in almost three years.

The best Frenchwoman, Kristina Mladenovic (39th), fell two rows after her defeat in qualifying in Brisbane. The classification remains unchanged for Caroline Garcia (46th) who had stopped in the round of 16 in Auckland.

WTA ranking:

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 7547 pts

2. Karolína Plíšková (CZE) 5940

3. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5496 (+1)

4. Simona Halep (ROU) 5461 (-1)

5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5075

6. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4935

7. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 4605 (+1)

8. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 4436 (-1)

9. Serena Williams (USA) 4215 (+1)

10. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4165 (-1)

11. Madison Keys (USA) 3072 (+2)

12. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 2940 (-1)

13. Johanna Konta (GBR) 2813 (-1)

14. Petra Martic (CRO) 2646 (+1)

15. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2565 (-1)

16. Markéta Vondroušová (CZE) 2390

17. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2250

18. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2175

19. Alison Riske (USA) 2130

20. Donna Vekic (CRO) 2080

...

39. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 1360 (-2)

46. ​​Caroline Garcia (FRA) 1235

60. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 965 (-3)

63. Fiona Ferro (FRA) 926 (-1)

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© 2020 AFP