Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a backhand against Elena Vesnina of Russia in their fourth round match during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 14, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images/AFP
Germany’s Angelique Kerber ousted Serena Williams from top spot in the WTA rankings Monday despite her fourth-round exit from Indian Wells.
Kerber, 29, the top-ranked player in the India Wells draw, returned to number one in the world despite the defeat because Williams missed the event through injury.
Elena Vesnina, 30, of Russia, who eliminated Kerber in the fourth round, moved up to 13th in the rankings, her best ever placing.
Latest WTA rankins released Monday:
1. Angelique Kerber (GER) 7,515 pts
2. Serena Williams (USA) 7,130
3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,640
4. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 5,160
5. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,022
6. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4,790
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 4,555
8. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 4,345
9. Madison Keys (USA) 4,007
10. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 3,850
11. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3,545
12. Venus Williams (USA) 3,485
13. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 3,320
14. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,225
15. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 3,095
16. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 2,303
17. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 2,141
18. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 2,080
19. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 2,010
20. Barbara Strycova (CZE) 1,995
