Kvitova usurps Halep, snatches world number two spot

PARIS, AFP: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic snatched world number two spot from Romanian rival Simona Halep in the latest WTA rankings released Monday. 

Thanks to her win in Sunday’s Stuttgart WTA tournament final, her second victory on clay this season, Kvitova is just 136 points adrift of top-ranked Naomi Osaka, eliminated in the semis in Germany. 

WTA rankings released Monday:

1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 

2. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 

3. Simona Halep (ROU) 

4. Angelique Kerber (GER) 

5. Karolina Pliskova (CZE)

6. Elina Svitolina (UKR)

7. Kiki Bertens (NED) 

8. Sloane Stephens (USA) 

9. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 

10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)