MELBOURNE, Australia — Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will remain No. 1 and No. 2 in the WTA rankings, regardless of who wins the Australian Open final on Saturday.
Sharapova needed to win the title combined with Williams failing to reach the final to overtake the 33-year-old American, who has spent almost two years atop the rankings. The WTA released projected rankings Thursday with Simona Halep, who lost in the Melbourne Park quarterfinals, remaining at No. 3, and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who lost in the third round, staying at No. 4.
Caroline Wozniacki is projected to move up three places to No. 5, replacing first-round loser Ana Ivanovic.
Madison Keys, who lost to Serena Williams in the semifinals but beat Kvitova and Venus Williams, is projected to make her top 20 debut.