Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Talia Gibson will return to the Australian women’s No.1 spot despite an anti-climactic end to her run to the quarter-finals of the Japan Open in Osaka.
Gibson, currently the world No.42, will edge back past Kimberly Birrell, the No.41, when next week’s rankings come out as the pair continue their neck-and-neck duel to be the country’s top-ranked female player.
Though fourth seed Gibson couldn’t cope with the explosive-hitting American Ashlyn Krueger, getting broken four times in the opening set before eventually succumbing 6-1 6-3 in just over an hour in Osaka, the 22-year-old Queenslander’s productive week has at least elevated her to No.38 in the live WTA rankings.
That will mean she’ll surpass Birrell again, with the pair having been duelling for the national top spot ever since a remarkable weekend for Australian tennis on the Asian tour last month when Birrell won her maiden WTA title at the Korea Open, beating Maya Joint in the final, while Gibson reached the Singapore Open final.
Meanwhile, Katie Boulter will be able to claim back some bragging rights in her marriage to Australian star Alex de Minaur as both will now once again be able to call themselves national number ones.
Boulter had slipped to British No.2 behind Sonay Kartal following the latter’s run to the final in Wuhan last week, but the 30-year-old produced a gutsy comeback to beat Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic and reach the semi-finals in Osaka to ensure she’ll again top her domestic rankings next week.
Boulter will face doubles maestro Katerina Siniakova in one semi-final, while the other will feature an all-American clash between top seed Ann Li, conqueror of Aryna Sabalenka last week in Wuhan, and Krueger.
Meanwhile, in the Ningbo Open in China, world No.1 Elena Rybakina had to work hard to avoid an upset against Polish qualifier Katarzyna Kawa.
US and Australian Open champ Rybakina, who lost her first match in the China Open after grabbing the top ranking at Flushing Meadows, had to repel a stirring comeback before prevailing confidently enough in the final set, running out a 6-1 3-6 6-1 winner.
The Kazakh will next face Russia’s Diana Shnaider, who knocked out fourth seed Iva Jovic, while Leylah Fernandez and Marie Bouzkova will contest the other semi-final.
