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It’s the highest ranking since July 2017 for Wimbledon champion Kerber, who is gunning to win this week’s WTA Finals in Singapore.
But Halep, missing from Singapore, is secure in the top spot and will end the season as number one thanks to a points difference of 6,921 to 5,375 for the German.
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Along with Halep, Serena Williams will also miss the Singapore event which brings together eight of the top women’s players.
In an early shock in Singapore, defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, who slipped from two to three in the latest rankings, was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Karolina Pliskova.
Latest women’s WTA rankings
1. Simona Halep (ROU) 6921 pts
2. Angelique Kerber (GER) 5375 (+1)
3. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 5086 (-1)
4. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 4740
5. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4255 (+2)
6. Sloane Stephens (USA) 3943 (+2)
7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 3850 (-1)
8. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 3840 (-3)
9. Kiki Bertens (NED) 3710 (+1)
10. Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 3315 (+4)
11. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3185
12. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3145 (+3)
13. Elise Mertens (BEL) 3065 (+3)
14. Julia Goerges (GER) 2995 (-5)
15. Serena Williams (USA) 2976 (+2)
16. Madison Keys (USA) 2817 (+3)
17. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 2725 (-4)
18. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 2600 (-6)
19. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 2420 (+1)
20. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2375 (+1)
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