Serena Williams of the U.S. serves to her compatriot Madison Keys during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday. AP
MELBOURNE — Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will remain No. 1 and No. 2 in the WTA rankings, regardless of who wins when they meet in the Australian Open final on Saturday.
Sharapova needed to win the title combined with Williams failing to reach the final to overtake the 33-year-old American, who has spent almost two years atop the rankings.
The WTA released projected rankings Thursday with Simona Halep, who lost in the Melbourne Park quarterfinals, remaining at No. 3, and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who lost in the third round, staying at No. 4.
Caroline Wozniacki is projected to move up three places to No. 5, replacing first-round loser Ana Ivanovic.
Madison Keys, who reached her first Grand Slam semifinal before losing in straight sets to 18-time major winner Serena Williams on Thursday, is projected to make her top 20 debut. Sharapova beat No. 10-seeded Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets in an all-Russian semifinal.
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