Naomi Osaka becomes Asia’s first WTA No.1

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Japan's Naomi Osaka has become the first player from Asia to top the men's or women's tennis rankings.

By winning a second consecutive major title at the just-concluded Australian Open, following her success at the U.S. Open last year, she rose three spots.

“I'm beyond excited to become the new WTA World No. 1,” the 21-year-old Osaka was quoted as saying on the WTA website. “I've always dreamt of being in this position and I am honored to be part of the elite group of players who have reached the No. 1 ranking.”

“I feel like I'm literally just still learning,” said Osaka, “Everyone kind of adjusts to being No. 1 in a different way.”

Osaka is the youngest woman to reach the top since 2010, when Caroline Wozniacki did it at 20.

She is now targeting French Open and Wimbledon success.

Previously, former Chinese great Li Na was the highest-ranked female player from Asia, who reached No. 2 in February 2014.

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in action in her Women's Singles Final match against Naomi Osaka of Japan during the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park, January 26, 2019. /VCG Photo

The runner-up at Melbourne Park, Petra Kvitova, jumped from No. 6 to No. 2.

Simona Halep's 48-week stay atop the WTA rankings ended Monday as she slid to No. 3 after a fourth-round loss to Serena Williams, one year after getting to the final at Melbourne Park.

Williams missed the 2018 tournament after having a baby; her quarterfinal run this time pushed her up five places to No. 11.

Meanwhile, for the men's side, Novak Djokovic's record seventh Australian Open title allowed him to stay at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, and Rafael Nadal's runner-up showing kept him at No. 2.

But 2017-18 champion Roger Federer's fourth-round exit took him from No. 3 down to No. 6.

The player who beat Federer, 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, turned his first run to a Grand Slam semifinal into a career-best ranking of No. 12.

Source(s): AP