Buzarnescu breaks top 20 after first WTA title

Paris - Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu continued her remarkable rise by breaking into the WTA Tour's top 20 for the first time on Monday after winning her maiden Tour title in San Jose.

The 30-year-old left-hander was ranked outside the world's top 500 at the last start of last season, but beat Greek Maria Sakkari on Sunday after losing her first two WTA Tour finals earlier this year in Hobart and Prague.

Her compatriot and French Open champion Simona Halep maintained her healthy lead as world number one, while 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams stayed 26th after her embarrassing 6-1, 6-0 thrashing by Johanna Konta in the San Jose first round.

Latest Top 20 in the WTA Tour rankings:

1. Simona Halep (ROU) 7 511

2. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6 660

3. Sloane Stephens (USA) 5 492

4. Angelique Kerber (GER) 5 305

5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5 020

6. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 4 680

7. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 4 535

8. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4 505

9. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 4 485

10. Julia Goerges (GER) 3 900

11. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 3 787

12. Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 3 525

13. Madison Keys (USA) 3 127

14. Venus Williams (USA) 2 901

15. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2 830

16. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 2 555

17. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 2 350

18. Kiki Bertens (NED) 2 231

19. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 2 165

20. Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 2 068

Selected:

26. Serena Williams (USA) 1 616