Belarusian tennis star Sabalenka reaches career-high world No.7 after third straight title

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka climbed to a career-high WTA ranking of seventh on Monday after winning her third straight title at the weekend.

Aryna Sabalenka poses with the champions flowers after winning the final of the 2021 Abu Dhabi WTA.

The 22-year-old won the Australian Open warm-up event in Abu Dhabi, beating Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-2 in Wednesday's final.

Sabalenka finished her 2020 campaign with triumphs in Ostrava and Linz and will be one of the favourites for the delayed Australian Open next month.

WTA top 20

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 8,717 points

2. Simona Halep (ROU) 7,255

3. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5,780

4. Sofia Kenin (USA) 5,760

5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,260

6. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,205

7. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 4,580 (+3)

8. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4,555 (-1)

9. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4,516 (-1)

10. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,505 (-1)

11. Serena Williams (USA) 4,080

12. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 4,010

13. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 3,426

14. Johanna Konta (GBR) 3,152

15. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 3,070

16. Madison Keys (USA) 2,962

17. Iga Swiatek (POL) 2,960

18. Petra Martic (CRO) 2,850

19. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 2,718

20. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,650