PARIS – Germany's Angelique Kerber moved up to second place in the latest WTA rankings released Monday behind injured world number one Simona Halep.
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 top spot and will end the season as number one thanks to a points difference of 6,921 to 5,375 for the German.
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.
Simona Halep retains her top of the WTA log this week. Photo: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
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)