Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia, 2 August 2016 | tennis.com.au

Arina Rodionova has returned to the world’s top 200 after her run to the final of the ITF $50,000 event in Lexington, USA.

Rodionova jumped 36 spots to No.198 after reaching the title match, where she fell to Michaella Krajicek in three sets.

https://twitter.com/arinarodionova/status/760224869002911744

The Melburnian peaked at a career-high ranking of No.157 back in May 2010.

Also rising 36 places was Olivia Rogowska, who improved to world No.416 after qualifying for the main draw in Lexington and then progressed to the second round.

Rogowska slipped to 534th in the rankings just over a month ago but has since improved significantly after winning nine of her last 12 matches on the North American ITF circuit.

Alison Bai rose 16 places after emulating Rogowska; the Canberran also reached the second round in Lexington as a qualifier, beating Laura Robson and Melanie Oudin en route.

She moved up to world No.372.

> view the latest WTA rankings

On the men’s side, Chris O’Connell was the big improver when this week he rose 52 places to a career-high mark of No.386.

O’Connell won an ITF Futures title in Belgrade, Serbia in late July.

Meanwhile, Andrew Whittington continued his impressive ascent, becoming the seventh-ranked Aussie after boosting his ranking 19 spots to No.188.

> view the latest Australian rankings

His latest success was a semifinal finish at the Lexington Challenger in Kentucky.

Since early June, Whittington has won 22 of 24 matches – among them have been three Futures titles and a run to the Gimcheon Challenger final.

Just over two months ago, he was ranked outside the world’s top 300.

> see where the Aussies stand in the latest ATP rankings