Serena Williams,Li up in tennis rankings

Serena Williams and Li Na inched up in the final women's world tennis rankings the Monday before the French Open seeds are determined. Williams, who advanced to the semifinals of the Italian Open before withdrawing due to a back injury, is fifth, up from No. 6. Li, the defending French Open champion who was given the semifinal walkover when Williams withdrew, lost a third-set tiebreaker to Maria Sharapova in Sunday's Italian Open final. She goes from ninth to No. 7 in the rankings. World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who took over the top spot after winning the Australian Open in January, will be the top seed for the French Open while Sharapova is second. Azarenka has 9,020 rankings points and cited a shoulder problem when she withdrew in Rome after a second-round win. Sharapova has 8,390 points and is 1-2 this year versus Azarenka -- all three matches were tournament finals, including in Australia. Sharapova may have upped the rivalry by questioning Azarenka's rationale for the withdrawal in Rome. Agnieszka Radwanska, with 7,080 points, is No. 3 and Petra Kvitova (6,275) comes in at No. 4. Williams has won 17 of her last 18 matches -- the walkover snapped the string -- and has 5,695 points. She pushed Samantha Stosur (5,440) to sixth in the rankings this week. Li has 4,965 points and her move up two spots forces Marion Bartoli (4,870) and Caroline Wozniacki (4,586) both down one spot to eighth and ninth, respectively. Angelique Kerber, who was the fourth semifinalist in Rome, improves one place to a personal high of No. 10 in the rankings. She has 3,580 points. The French Open begins May 27 and the women's singles final is scheduled for June 9.