Tennis: Miami champion Azarenka continues rankings rise

PARIS (AFP) - Victoria Azarenka has jumped up to world number five in the latest WTA rankings, after beating Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Miami Open final on Saturday.

The former world number one became just the third woman, after Kim Clijsters and Steffi Graf, to win in Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back.

Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber retakes second spot from Agnieszka Radwanska thanks to her run to the semi-finals, where she lost to Belarusian Azarenka.

Serena Williams still holds a substantial lead at the top, despite losing to Kuznetsova in the last 16, her first defeat at the tournament since 2012.

Two-time major winner Kuznetsova is the biggest mover in the top 20, leaping six places to 13th.

WTA world top 20

1. Serena Williams (USA) 8,625 pts

2. Angelique Kerber (GER) 6,025 (+1)

3. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 5,775 (-1)

4. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4,831

5. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 4,530 (+3)

6. Simona Halep (ROM) 3,785 (-1)

7. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 3,763

8. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 3,595 (+1)

9. Maria Sharapova (RUS) 3,432 (+2)

10. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 3,340

11. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 3,160 (-5)

12. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 3,033

13. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 3,010 (+6)

14. Venus Williams (USA) 2,887 (-1)

15. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 2,768

16. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 2,750

17. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 2,735 (+3)

18. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 2,590 (-4)

19. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 2,531 (-2)

20. Sara Errani (ITA) 2,420 (-2)

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