Canada’s Gabriel Diallo moved into the top 100 of the ATP Tour rankings for the first time Monday, rising 31 spots to No. 87 after reaching the final of the Almaty Open.
Diallo upset four top-100 players — including 21st-ranked Alejandro Tabilo of Chile and 30th-ranked Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina — to reach his first career ATP Tour final.
The 23-year-old from Montreal forced a decisive third set against 24th-ranked Karen Khachanov of Russia before dropping a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 decision on Sunday.
Two other Canadians were in the top 100.
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal rose two spots to No. 19 and Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., fell three positions to No. 95.
WATCH | Diallo falls to Khachanov in Almaty final on Sunday:
Karen Khachanov defeated Montreal’s Gabriel Diallo 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 Sunday at the Almaty Open final in Kazakhstan.
Sabalenka reclaims WTA top ranking
U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka is officially No. 1 in the WTA rankings again after ending Iga Swiatek’s 11-month reign.
Sabalenka led Swiatek by 41 points in the latest rankings published Monday, overturning a 69-point deficit from the week before, even though neither of the two played last week.
Instead, the Belarusian took back the No. 1 spot following “continuing year-end adjustments for falling short of certain tournament quotas,” the WTA said.
Sabalenka, who was previously top of the rankings from September through November last year, laid the groundwork for regaining the No. 1 spot when she won the Wuhan Open on Oct. 13.
Top-ranked Canadian Leylah Fernandez from Laval, Que., dropped one spot to No. 35, while North Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino climbed 18 positions to No. 118 in the world. Marina Stakusic and Bianca Andreescu, both from Mississauga, Ont., are ranked 140th and 159th, respectively
Swiatek has taken time out for a coaching change since she last played at the U.S. Open. Swiatek reached the quarterfinals before losing to Jessica Pegula, who was in turn beaten by Sabalenka in the final.
Sabalenka also defended her Australian Open title in January.
The next chance for Swiatek to regain the top spot is at the WTA Finals next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Andreescu, Fernandez victorious in Tokyo
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu and Leylah Fernandez earned first-round victories at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Andreescu, from Mississauga, Ont., defeated Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi 7-5, 6-3, while Fernandez had a 5-7, 6-2, 5-2 lead on Aliaksandra Sasnovich when the Belarusian retired due to injury.
Andreescu will play second-seeded Beatriz Haddad Maia in the second round.
WATCH | Andreescu downs Japanese opponent in straight sets:
Wildcard entry Bianca Andreescu won her opening round match 7-5, 6-3 to defeat qualifier Mei Yamaguchi of Japan, the result was her first match win since the Paris Olympic Games.
The Brazilian was given a first-round bye in the WTA 500 event.
Fernandez will meet Varvara Gracheva of France, a 6-1, 7-6 (4) winner over Japan’s Mai Hontama.
WATCH | Fernandez prevails against Belarusian in walkover:
Leylah Fernandez of Laval, Que., advanced to the Toray Pan Pacific Open Round of 16 when her opponent Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus retired, with the Canadian leading 5-7, 6-2, 5-2.
