Russia’s Maria Sharapova will regain the world No 1 ranking after Amelie Mauresmo and Svetlana Kuznetsova made shock exits at Melbourne yesterday.

After current top-spot holder Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew from the Melbourne Park event for personal reasons, Sharapova ensured there would be a new No 1 by reaching the last 16 at the year’s first grand slam.

Sharapova and Frenchwoman Mauresmo were set to vie for the elite ranking but with the defending champion’s defeat to the Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova and the Russian having fewer points to defend, most of the permutations were made redundant.