Kvitova up to seventh in WTA rankings

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Petra Kvitova's title match win over Sara Errani boosted Kvitova up a spot to No. 7 in the women's world tennis rankings.

Kvitova stopped Errani 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in Saturday's final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a decision that allowed Kvitova to pass Errani in the rankings. Kvitova is seventh, pushing Errani to No. 8. Kvitova improved to 10-2 in title match appearances.

Jelena Jankovic, who won the XXI Copa Claro Cosanitas in Colombia, improves three spots in the rankings to No. 21. It was her first championship since March 2010 and ended a five-match losing streak in finals appearances.

Marina Erakovic was up 6-1 when Sabina Lisicki, who had been ill, retired in the final at the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships in Memphis. It was the first WTA title for Erakovic, who was the Memphis runner-up in 2012. She goes from No. 71 to 62nd in the rankings.

The Kvitova-Errani switch was the only change in the women's Top 10. Serena Williams leads the rankings with 10,365 points, 40 more than No. 2-ranked Victoria Azarenka. Maria Sharapova, with 9,715 points, also isn't far behind at No. 3.

Agnieszka Radwanska has 7,505 points for fourth, with Li Na (6,130) in fifth and Angelique Kerber (5,400) coming in sixth. Kvitova has 4,980 points and Errani totals 4,915.

Samantha Stosur has 3,835 points and is ranked ninth while Caroline Wozniacki is 10th with 3,570.

Errani tries to defend her title at the WTA event in Acapulco, Mexico, and Wozniacki is the top seed at the BMW Malaysian Open this week. World No. 20 Venus Williams is the No. 1 seed at the inaugural WTA Brazil Tennis Cup.