Tennis: Ranking & News – Number Ones sitting pretty for now

• Women’s champion: Ashleigh Barty
• Women’s runner-up: Danielle Collins
• Men’s champion: Rafael Nadal
• Men’s runner-up: Daniil Medvedev

What an amazing history-making weekend it was with the most notable high-riser being Danielle Collins, whose great run to the women’s final, less than a year after having endometriosis surgery catapulted her up into the Top 10 for the first time in her career.

With that, she also becomes the US number one – so keep an eye on her especially in March when the Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami rolls around.

ATP Rankings as at 31 January

Some decent points for the men’s semi-finalist, but it will be interesting to see what happens at the top. Had Daniil Medvedev won the final and the Rotterdam final (w/c 7 February) he could have overtaken Novak Djokovic on the top spot, as Djokovic was not down to compete until the week after, in Dubai.

Now we wait to see if a week is enough for Medvedev to get over the crushing disappointment of losing from two sets up or decides to take more time out.

Arguably Medvedev is the best player in the world right now, but February gives us a lot to look forward to when we will see the World No. 1 and World No. 2 do battle in the desert.

WTA Rankings as at 31 January

A couple of surprise fallers who were early casualties at the Australian Open were Garbine Muguruza and Anett Kontaveit – a lot was expected of them both and they fell short.

As well as Collins big leap into the Top 10, it was a decent jump up for Iga Swiatek, who found herself demolished by Collins in the semi-final. And we do mean demolished!

Right now, the world is on Ashleigh Barty’s racquet. She is now one of just five active players to hold Slam titles on all here surfaces of hard, clay and grass, joining Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

The sharp eyed amongst you will know that in this week’s Tournament Watch, there are no WTA tournaments to be seen. Usually St Petersburg (which draws a decent field) immediately follows the Australian Open, so while some WTA fans are moaning, it only sets us up for a decent two weeks of WTA 500 fields with the top names to come, and the big WTA 1000 in Doha to see in the end of the month. As they say, all good things come to those who wait!