Elise Mertens reclaims top doubles spot after Australian Open win
Belgian tennis player Elise Mertens has climbed back to the top of the WTA doubles rankings. The 28-year-old from Limburg won the doubles title for the second time in her career at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, last weekend.
Mertens triumphed alongside Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei, who now moves up to second place. Australia's Storm Hunter, until recently Mertens' doubles partner, drops two places to third.
In the singles, Mertens, who was knocked out in the second round of the Melbourne singles tournament, moves up two places to 26th. Fellow Belgians Greet Minnen (down seven places to 74) and Yanina Wickmayer (down two places to 81st) were both knocked out at the beginning of the tournament.
World number one Iga Swiatek had a disappointing Australian Open, losing in the third round, but remains at the top of the singles rankings. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, who won the tournament, remains in second place ahead of Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, who lost in the second round, drops two places to fifth. China's Qinwen Zheng, who lost to Sabalenka in the final after a strong tournament, climbs eight places to seventh.
Elise Mertens and Hsieh Su-wei celebrate after their victory in the women's doubles final © PHOTO ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP
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