Emma Raducanu overtaken by Naomi Osaka as another Brit threatens status

has officially overtaken in the WTA rankings after dropping down to WTA 125 level and . The four-time Grand Slam champion took action after losing early in Madrid, taking a wildcard into the Challenger event and walking away as the champion.

Raducanu didn't make any progress this week, staying at No. 49 in the world. But fellow Brit Sonay Kartal is now closing in on her status as the second-ranked Brit, as she reached a new career-high and is less than 100 points behind Raducanu.

The WTA rankings have updated again, and Osaka has officially returned to the world's top 50 after lifting her first career title on the clay in Saint Malo. The Japanese star now sits at No. 48, exactly one place above fellow Major winner Raducanu.

Osaka earned an extra 100 points for her efforts on the French clay. The former world No. 1 went from agony to ecstasy, bouncing back from a first-round exit at the Madrid Open to clinch her first trophy in more than four years.

Meanwhile, Raducanu gained just 25 points for reaching the second round at the Caja Magica, not enough to help her climb up the ranks.

The British No. 2 earned her first clay-court victory in more than a year against Suzan Lamens in the first round, but lost a three-setter to Marta Kostyuk.

After being overtaken by Osaka, Raducanu is under more threat, as British No. 3 Kartal is hot on her heels. The 23-year-old made her tournament debut in Madrid and also reached the second round, losing to eventual semi-finalist Elina Svitolina.

Kartal is now up to a new career-high ranking of No. 56 in the world, and she trails Raducanu by just 98 points.

If she can outdo the former US Open champion in Rome, Kartal could become the new British No. 2.

Elsewhere in the rankings, Coco Gauff regained the world No. 3 spot after finishing runner-up in Madrid, overtaking countrywoman .

Svitolina has returned to the world's top 15 after reaching the semi-final at the Caja Magica. The Ukrainian has been on a tear on the clay, also lifting the Rouen title last month.

Aryna Sabalenka also extended her stronghold on the No. 1 ranking. She is now just the third woman to surpass the 11k point mark after and Iga Swiatek.

The Belarusian has 11,118 points while the next best player, Swiatek in No. 2, has 6,773.