The Barty’s over as Ash loses the No.1 ranking

AUSTRALIAN Ashleigh Barty’s eight-week reign as the WTA’s No.1 player in the world is over after Naomi Osaka breezed past her opponent in the second round of the Canadian Open.

Barty’s 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 second-round loss to American Sofia Kenin left the door open for the Japanese star and ex-world No.1, who snatched the opportunity when Tatjana Maria retired injured after dropping the first set 6-2 in Toronto yesterday.

But Czech Karolina Pliskova, another former world No.1, could overtake both Osaka, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion, as well as Barty, with a deep run in the tournament.

Pliskova, the first Czech ever to hold the top spot, opened her campaign in Toronto perfectly by beating Alison Riske, the American who snapped Barty’s 15-match winning streak in the Wimbledon fourth round last month. The Czech defeated Riske 6-4, 6-7 (47), 6-2 and will face Anett Kontaveit, whose previous opponent Carla Suarez Navarro retired while trailing 7-5, 3-1.

If Osaka reaches the quarterfinal or semi-final, Pliskova would need to reach the final, or otherwise defeat her in the final to be No.1.

Three-time champion in Toronto Serena Williams, who has said she wants to get more matches in before seeking a record-equalling 24th career grand slam title at the US Open, won her first match since losing the Wimbledon final. The 37-yearold beat Belgian Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round where she’ll face Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova. Simona Halep survived a stern test from American qualifier Jennifer Brady with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) victory.