Sharapova back to No. 2 in world rankings

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova returned to the world No. 2 ranking, switching places with Petra Kvitova in the only tweak Monday in the women's tennis Top 10.

Sharapova was a quarterfinalist at the GDF Suez Open in Paris last week, a result that pushes her to No. 2 behind Victoria Azarenka. Kvitova slips to third.

Sharapova was beaten in Paris by Angelique Kerber, who won the tournament and improves her ranking five spots to No. 22. Daniela Hantuchova repeated as champion at Thailand's PTT Pattaya Open and remains ranked No. 20.

While the Top 10 had minimal changes this week, that could be different next week since six of the eight highest-ranked players and 17 of the Top 22 -- including Hantuchova and Kerber -- are entered in the Qatar Total Open where the championship is worth 900 points in the rankings.

Sharapova, Kvitova and ninth-ranked Li Na aren't in the field

Azarenka, seeded No. 1 in Doha, has 8,585 ranking points. Sharapova has 7,680 for second and Kvitova totals 7,320. Caroline Wozniacki remains fourth with 7,085.

Samantha Stosur is fifth at 5,430, just 100 points ahead of No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska (5,330), while Marion Bartoli is at 4,890 for seventh but only 200 points up on No. 8 Vera Zvonareva (4,690). Li has 4,450 points and Andrea Petkovic (3,950) is 10th.