31 January,2017 09:00 AM IST | | AFP
Roger Federer has climbed back into the ATP top 10 on the strength of his epic 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The 35-year-old Swiss great defied old rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday in a thrilling five-setter
Paris: Roger Federer has climbed back into the ATP top 10 on the strength of his epic 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The 35-year-old Swiss great defied old rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday in a thrilling five-setter in Melbourne to move up seven spots to 10th in the latest rankings released yesterday.
Serena replaces Kerber
Meanwhile, Australian Open women's singles winner Serena Williams replaced Angelique Kerber as World No. 1 in the latest WTA rankings. The American moved up one place courtesy of her victory in Melbourne where she got the better of sister Venus 6-4, 6-4 in the final on Saturday for a record 23rd Grand Slam title. Kerber's defence of her Australian Open crown ended with a last 16 loss to Coco Vandeweghe with the German now down to second and her American nemesis up 15 rungs to 20th. Melbourne quarter-finalist Karolina Pliskova climbs two spots to third.
Nadal, beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, moved up three places to sixth in the list still dominated by early Australian Open victims Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
Stan Wawrinka, defeated in the semis last week by Federer, is up one in third. Germany's Mischa Zverev, who upset Murray in the fourth round in Melbourne, soared 15 places to 35th, his best ever ranking. Zverev's teenaged brother Alexander climbed two rungs to 22nd after making it to the third round where he lost to Nadal.
