By Howard Fendrich, The Associated Press
NEW YORK — U.S. Open champion Angelique Kerber officially became the oldest woman to debut at No. 1 in the WTA rankings, ending Serena Williams’ record-tying run of 186 consecutive weeks in the top spot.
Monday’s rankings are the first since February 2013 without Williams at No. 1.
The 28-year-old Kerber’s rise from No. 2 was assured when Williams lost in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
Kerber went on to beat Karolina Pliskova in Saturday’s final for her second Grand Slam title of the season. She defeated Williams at the Australian Open in January, then was the runner-up to the American at Wimbledon in July.
She is the first woman from Germany to be ranked No. 1 since Steffi Graf, who has been a mentor for Kerber. Graf and Williams share the mark for most weeks in a row atop the WTA.
“For sure, when I was growing up, Steffi was my idol,” Kerber said, “and this is also special that she is German. She did a lot for German tennis, as well. And now, to be the next after her, to be a German No. 1 and win Grand Slams, this is, for me, really important.”
Williams is now No. 2, followed by French Open champion Garbine Muguruza at No. 3, Agnieszka Radwanska at No. 4, Simona Halep at No. 5, and Pliskova at a career-best of No. 6. Pliskova was No. 11 before making it past the third round of a major for the first time and becoming the fourth woman to eliminate both Williams sisters during a Grand Slam tournament.
Roberta Vinci, the U.S. Open runner-up in 2015, dropped from No. 8 to No. 15 on Monday after losing to Kerber in the quarterfinals last week.
Victoria Azarenka went from No. 7 to No. 11; she skipped the U.S. Open because she is pregnant.
WTA Ranking
By The Associated Press
Through Sept. 11
Singles
1. Angelique Kerber, Germany, 8730
2. Serena Williams, United States, 7050
3. Garbine Muguruza, Spain, 5830
4. Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland, 5815
5. Simona Halep, Romania, 4801
6. Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic, 4425
7. Venus Williams, United States, 3815
8. Carla Suarez Navarro, Spain, 3330
9. Madison Keys, United States, 3286
10. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, 3250
11. Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 3121
12. Dominika Cibulkova, Slovakia, 3100
13. Johanna Konta, Britain, 2865
14. Timea Bacsinszky, Switzerland, 2773
15. Roberta Vinci, Italy, 2595
16. Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic, 2390
17. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Russia, 2255
18. Sam Stosur, Australia, 2200
19. Elena Vesnina, Russia, 2114
20. Elina Svitolina, Ukraine, 2101
21. Barbora Strycova, Czech Republic, 1930
22. Kiki Bertens, Netherlands, 1845
23. Irina-Camelia Begu, Romania, 1835
24. Caroline Garcia, France, 1675
25. Daria Kasatkina, Russia, 1653
26. Timea Babos, Hungary, 1630
27. Belinda Bencic, Switzerland, 1602
28. Sloane Stephens, United States, 1602
29. Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark, 1581
30. Laura Siegemund, Germany, 1563
31. Ana Ivanovic, Serbia, 1560
32. Anastasija Sevastova, Latvia, 1503
33. CoCo Vandeweghe, United States, 1501
34. Monica Puig, Puerto Rico, 1500
35. Misaki Doi, Japan, 1495
36. Sara Errani, Italy, 1470
37. Jelena Jankovic, Serbia, 1435
38. Annika Beck, Germany, 1425
39. Yanina Wickmayer, Belgium, 1408
40. Jelena Ostapenko, Latvia, 1395
41. Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan, 1380
42. Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, 1352
43. Yaroslava Shvedova, Kazakhstan, 1247
44. Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, 1240
45. Andrea Petkovic, Germany, 1230
46. Johanna Larsson, Sweden, 1230
47. Daria Gavrilova, Australia, 1165
48. Eugenie Bouchard, Canada, 1165
49. Zhang Shuai, China, 1158
50. Anna-Lena Friedsam, Germany, 1135
Djokovic still tops
Novak Djokovic remained at No. 1 in the ATP rankings despite losing to No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the men’s final at Flushing Meadows on Sunday night. Andy Murray stayed at No. 2.
Rafael Nadal gained one spot to No. 4, and Kei Nishikori moved up from No. 6 to No. 5. Roger Federer slid from No. 4 to No. 7 as he sits out the rest of 2016 while rehabbing his surgically repaired left knee.
Gael Monfils, who lost to Djokovic in the semifinals in New York, jumped from No. 12 to No. 8.