Barty still on top but gap narrows ahead of Australia Open (Punch)

Ashleigh Barty holds on to a top spot in the WTA rankings released Monday but Karolina Pliskova has narrowed the gap heading into the Australia Open.

Dumped out of the Brisbane International in straight sets last week, Barty retains a comfortable cushion of 1,607 points over the Czech, who went on to win the Brisbane title for the third time in four years on Sunday.

Barty is aiming to become the first Australian to win her home Grand Slam since Christine O’Neil in 1976 and continues her preparations this week in Adelaide. Read more