Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will remain No. 1 and No. 2 in the WTA rankings regardless of who wins the Australian Open final on Saturday.
To reach No.1, Sharapova needed to win the title as well as have Williams, who has spent almost two years atop the rankings, fail to reach the final.
The WTA released projected rankings on 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 lost to Serena Williams in the semifinals but beat Kvitova and Venus Williams, is projected to make her top 20 debut.
