Azarenka remains 32nd in WTA rankings

Belarus' number one Victoria Azarenka remains 32nd in the WTA rankings.

The Belarusian goes 32nd with a total of 1,423 points. World number one Serena Williams of the United States holds 9,981 points.

The top ten players, according to the current WTA Rankings, are as follows:

1. Serena Williams (USA) - 9,981 points

2. Maria Sharapova (Russia) - 7,890

3. Simona Halep (Romania) - 7,571

4. Petra Kvitova (the Czech Republic) - 6,060

5. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) – 4,675

6. Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) - 4,200

7. Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) – 4,122

8. Yekaterina Makarova (Russia) – 3,420

9. Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) - 3,385

10. Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) – 3,335.

This week the Belarusian national team will play the team of Japan in Tokyo for the spot in World Group II. The Belarusian team will comprise Victoria Azarenka, Olga Govortsova (World No.136), Alexandra Sasnovich (146), and Vera Lapko (593). Belarus had the same lineup in Bucharest in early February 2015 to have a successful first Fed Cup qualification round earning the right to fight for the spot in World Group II against Japan.

The Japanese national team will include Kurumi Nara (53), Misaki Doi (103), Eri Hozumi (156), and Shuko Aoyama (196).

Belarus faced Japan in the Federation Cup only once. In 1999 Natalia Zvereva and Olga Barabanshchikova of Belarus blanked the rivals 2-0 in the World Group II qualification run. Today Team Belarus is ranked 19th, the rivals are 15th.

Last time Belarus reached World Group II was in 2012 and then lost to the United States (0-5) and Switzerland (1-4).

This season the Belarusian team had a successful Fed Cup Euro/Africa (Group I) Zone qualification in Budapest, beating Georgia (3-0), Bulgaria (3-0), Portugal (2-1), and the UK (2-0).

Belarus-Japan hard-court meetings are scheduled for 18-19 April.

Serbia and Paraguay, Slovakia and Sweden, Argentina and Spain will also play for the place in Fed Cup World Group II in the forthcoming weekend.