Romania's Simona Halep, who is into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon 2017, is very close to becoming the World No. 1 player on the WTA Tour. Halep defeated Victoria Azarenka on Monday while the current World No. 1, Angelique Kerber, lost to Garbine Muguruza. With Kerber out of the picture, the situation right now is that either Halep or Karolina Pliskova will be top ranked when the post-Wimbledon rankings update on Monday.

Halep doesn't need a title to be top ranked

Halep, importantly, could claim the No. 1 ranking even if she falls short of a title at Wimbledon this week.

The Romanian will face Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals, Britain's top player and one that promises to be a tough out at the All England Club. If Halep beats Konta, then Halep would be No. 1 even if she loses in the semifinals or final. If Halep loses, then it's Karolina Pliskova that would get the No. 1 ranking.

If Pliskova gets the No. 1 ranking by virtue of Halep losing, then the Czech player would become the fourth women's No. 1-ranked player to hold top spot on tour without a Grand Slam title. Previously, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic, and Dinara Safina all held top spot without ever winning a Grand Slam. In regard to Wozniacki and Jankovic, there's still time for them to change that.

However, to this point in their careers they are on the short list of players to have held the top ranking at some point, yet to not have won a Grand Slam at any point. On the men's side of things, Marcelos Rios is the only male player to fit that criteria.

Halep may or may not end up in the same boat. If she gets the No. 1 ranking, then she might join Wozniacki, Jankovic, and Safina as No.

1s not to have won a Grand Slam. Halep, of course, should she beat Konta may avoid that designation should she also post victories in the semifinals and final. She does share a path to the final with Venus Williams and Jelena Ostapenko, two proven Grand Slam winners. Halep might be an underdog in the semifinals against either player and she might also end up an underdog in the final, with Svetlana Kuznetsova and Muguruza the proven Grand Slam winners still alive on top of the draw.

New World No. 1 on Monday

In all cases, the World No. 1 will change hands on the women's tour on Monday. Kerber still has time in her career to get back to No. 1, however her cumulative weeks will halt for the time being at 34 weeks. That's definitely not a bad tally when measured against the previous World No. 1s. It would place her 12th all time in terms of cumulative weeks, behind Amelie Mauresmo and above Safina.