Paris, Feb 14: Russian Maria Sharapova overtook Czech Petra Kvitova to take the world number two spot in the latest WTA rankings released on Monday.
Sharapova was beaten in the quarterfinals of the Paris Open last week by Germany's Angelique Kerber, who went on to take the title, but the former world number one benefitted from the absence of last year's Paris winner Petra Kvitova.
Kvitova drops to third while Kerber moves up five places to 22nd.
Rankings:
1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 8585 pts
2. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 7680 (Ư)
3. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 7320 (-1)
4. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 7085
5. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 5430
6. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 5330
7. Marion Bartoli (FRA) 4890
8. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 4690
9. Li Na (CHN) 4450
10. Andrea Petkovic (GER) 3950
11. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 3640
12. Serena Williams (USA) 3580
13. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 3295
14. Sabine Lisicki (GER) 3117
15. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 2735
16. Peng Shuai (CHN) 2580 (Ư)
17. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 2575 (-1)
18. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 2526 (Ư)
19. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 2525 (-1)
20. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 2450
21. Julia Goerges (GER) 2435
22. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2415 (Ƴ)
