Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has fallen four places in the WTA rankings to the 8th position, according to the standings released on Monday.
Halep has been overtaken by Garbine Muguruza, Dominika Cibulkova, Johanna Konta and Agnieszka Radwanska and is on the lowest position since February 2014. The shift comes as the Madrid Open is played one week later than last year and she has lost the points won in 2016.
Top ten WTA rankings: 1. Serena Williams – 7,010 points; 2. Angelique Kerber 6,945; 3. Karolina Pliskova 5,946; 4. Garbine Muguruza 4,627; 5. Dominika Cibulkova 4,475; 6. Johanna Konta 4,425; 7. Agnieszka Radwanska 4,255; 8. Simona Halep 4,206; 9. Svetlana Kuznetsova 4,060; 10. Elina Svitolina 3,955.
Other Romanian tennis players: Irina Begu – 36th (down 7 positions);
Monica Niculescu – 51st (down 3 positions)
Sorana Cîrstea – 83rd (down 19 positions).
In the first round of Madrid Open, Halep defeated Krystina Pliskova (58th WTA) 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday and is to face Roberta Vinci in the next round.
Sorana Cirstea also qualified to the second round after defeating on Sunday Anastasia Pavliucenkova (Russia) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5).
Monica Niculescu was defeated by Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-4 in a match that lasted over three hours.
Irina Begu defeated on Saturday Elena Vesnina (Russia) 6-4, 6-4.