Sharapova, Errani up in tennis rankings

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova and Sara Errani lost in the U.S. Open semifinals but gained in the world women's tennis rankings Monday.

Serena Williams edged Victoria Azarenka in three sets Sunday to claim her fourth U.S. Open championship and 15th Grand Slam title. The result left Azarenka ranked No 1 and Williams in the No. 4 spot, where they were before the tournament began.

But Sharapova, who dropped a three-set decision to Azarenka in the semifinals, was able to go from third to second in the latest rankings. That pushed Agnieszka Radwanska to third.

Williams rolled past Errani in her semifinal but Errani improved her ranking from 10th to a career-high No. 7.

Marion Bartoli, who made it to the Open quarterfinals, returned to the Top 10 but Carolina Wozniacki, who was No. 1 in the world until Azarenka took over Jan. 30, fell to No. 11, after entering the U.S. Open in the No. 9 spot. Wozniacki lost a first-round match in New York. She has been bothered by a knee injury.

Azarenka has been No. 1 for 29 weeks -- the 11th most total number of weeks on top -- and has 10,265 rankings points. Sharapova has 8,435 while Radwanska comes in with 8,295 and Williams has 7,900.

Petra Kvitova (6,690) and Angelique Kerber (5,085) remain fifth and sixth, respectively.

Errani totals 4,755 points while Li Na, who is eighth in the rankings, has 4,526 points. Samantha Stosur, slipping from seventh to No. 9, has 4,200 points. Stosur won the U.S. Open in 2011 but was ousted in the quarterfinals by Azarenka this year.

Bartoli has 3,800 points and Wozniacki has 3,440.