Rankings watch: Can Barty rise to No.1 on grass?

Newly-crowned Roland Garros champion Ash Barty is closing in on the world No.1 ranking.

Naomi Osaka begins the grasscourt swing in top spot – but her lead has been reduced to a slender 136 points. The in-form Barty, whose favourite surface is grass, could overtake Osaka with a deep run in the first scheduled grass tournament for both women in Birmingham.

The Australian has also moved to the top of the WTA Race ahead of Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova, with a debut appearance at the WTA Finals in October looking highly likely.

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Osaka does also have an opportunity during the grasscourt season to consolidate her stranglehold on the No.1 ranking – a position she has held for the past consecutive 20 weeks. The Japanese player has 295 ranking points to defend on grass.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber faces the most ranking pressure in coming weeks. The German is defending 2186 points – equivalent to 46 per cent of her current ranking total.

Serena Williams also has a significant amount of points to defend. Points earned from a run to last year’s Wimbledon final equate to 38 per cent of the American’s current ranking total.

Keep an eye on: French Open stars Marketa Vondrousova and Amanda Anisimova both have minimal points to defend on grass, increasing their chances of continuing their rapid ranking rises. Vondrousova did not win a match in the three grasscourt tournaments she contested in 2018, while Anisimova was sidelined with injury this time last year.

Under pressure: Three of last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinalists have been struggling for form in 2019, causing them to drop outside the top 30. After a semifinal run at the All England Club, Jelena Ostapenko has 880 points to defend on grass – equivalent to 61 per cent of her current ranking total. Dominika Cibulkova has 461 points (34 per cent of current ranking total) and Camila Giorgi has 474 points (35 per cent). Daria Kasatkina is in a similar position. The 22-year-old started the year ranked inside the top 10 – now she is clinging to a place in the top 30 and has 585 points (32 per cent of her ranking) to defend on grass.