Ekaterina Makarova became the 12th Russian woman in WTA history to crack the world's top 10 when the new rankings were released today. Makarova displaces Dominika Cibulkova at No. 10, as the Slovak moves down one spot to No. 11. The Russian had a career year in 2014, reaching the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and semifinals of the US Open in singles, as well as winning the doubles title in Flushing Meadows with partner Elena Vesnina. 

Makarova joins Olga Morozova, Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina, Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Vera Zvonareva, Dinara Safina, Anna Chakvetadze and Maria Kirilenko as the only Russians to have achieved the feat.

Also making moves - in the other directon - is Victoria Azarenka. The Belarusian finished runner-up to Serena Williams in Brisbane in 2014, but the removal of those points sees her drop 11 places to No. 42 in the world. Azarenka's injury-plagued 2014 is behind her, but with an opening round loss to Karolina Pliskova in Brisbane last night, the two-time Australian Open champion will be unseeded in Melbourne. Also making a much less precipitous drop is Ana Ivanovic, who falls from No. 5 to No. 7 after her Auckland champion's points were removed. 

On the men's side, things largely stayed the same in the world rankings as 2015 gets underway. Lleyton Hewitt drops 34 places in the world rankings to No. 84 following the points from his Brisbane International title in 2014 falling off. Hewitt beat Roger Federer to win the tournament last year, and will open his title defense against fellow Australian Sam Groth this evening in Brisbane.

Photo: Getty