Sharapova soars to second, Nishikori climbs

MariaSharapova

The Russian climbed back to the number two mantle for the first time since the 2013 French Open, after she cantered to the title in Beijing with the loss of just one set.

Sharapova moved above Simona Halep, the Romanian now ranked third, while Czech Petra Kvitova - who took that set off Sharapova in the final - fell to fourth.

Eugenie Bouchard (sixth) and Ana Ivanovic (eighth) both climbed one spot, at the expense of Agnieszka Radwanska (seventh) and Caroline Wozniacki (ninth). 

Australia's Sam Stosur was the new re-addition to the top 20, moving up three spots to 18th after reaching the Beijing semis.

A big climber into the top 50 was Tsvetana Pironkova, the Bulgarian jumping seven places to 44th.

The two biggest drops in the top 100 were Italy's Francesca Schiavone - down nine to 80th - and Slovenia's Polona Hercog, down 13 to 86th.

The only change inside the ATP World Tour's top 10 was the rise of Kei Nishikori to sixth, at the expense of Tomas Berdych (seventh).

Nishikori won the Japan Open, while Berdych was a losing finalist to Novak Djokovic at the China Open.

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, inactive due to a wrist injury, has fallen five spots to 19th.

Gilles Simon, of France, climbed up eight spots to 29th, while Slovakian Martin Klizan - who upset Rafa Nadal in China - rose 16 places to 40th.

Germany's Benjamin Becker also moved 16 spots up to 46th, while the biggest fall inside the top 100 was that of Croatia's Ivan Dodig - who dropped 31 places to 92nd.

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