Safina back on top, Wozniacki fourth in WTA rankings

HAMBURG - Dinara Safina returned to the top and Caroline Wozniacki rose to a career-high fourth place in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings issued Monday.

Russia’s Safina has 7,731 points and ends Serena Williams’ two-week reign at the top of the standings. The American Williams has 7,576 points and Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova is third on 5,772 points.

Wozniacki climbed two places to fourth with 5,485 points amid ongoing controversy about an injury-related withdrawal last week in Luxembourg which has led to a WTA probe.

Another shake-up in the rankings is expected this week as the eight best players of the year gather in Doha from Tuesday onwards for the season-ending WTA championships.

WTA top 10 as of October 26 (previous ranking in parenthesis):

1. (2) Dinara Safina, Russia, 7,731 points

2. (1) Serena Williams, United States, 7,576

3. (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, 5,772

4. (6) Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark, 5,485

5. (5) Elena Dementieva, Russia, 5,415

6. (8) Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 4,451

7. (4) Venus Williams, United States, 4,397

8. (9) Jelena Jankovic, Serbia, 3,555

9. (7) Vera Zvonareva, Russia, 3,550

10. (10) Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland, 3,340