Barty's top spot under pressure from Pliskova

Paris - Ashleigh Barty remains the world No 1 for another week, according to the latest WTA Tour rankings released on Monday, but the Australian faces a tough battle in Wuhan if she is to stay on top.

Barty heads into her first round match against Caroline Garcia at the Wuhan Open with a 321-point lead over Karolina Pliskova in the rankings.

The 27-year-old Pliskova is in form having won in Zhengzhou earlier this month, unlike Barty who has struggled since her outstanding start to the season when she won the French Open and in Birmingham.

Barty has held the No 1 spot since the beginning of September having also occupied it in July and August.

Pliskova of the Czech Republic has not reached number one since summer 2017.

There were no changes in the top 10.

Top 20 in the latest WTA Tour rankings:

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 6,446

2. Karolína Plískova (CZE) 6,125

3. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,160

4. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5,011

5. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4,835

6. Simona Halep (ROU) 4,803

7. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 4,326

8. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,225

9. Serena Williams (USA) 3,935

10. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 3,738

11. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3,073

12. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2,835

13. Madison Keys (USA) 2,827

14. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 2,785

15. Sloane Stephens (USA) 2,769

16. Qiang Wang (CHN) 2,668

17. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2,630

18. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2,597

19. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 2,517

20. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2,500