Verkerk downed claycourt specialists Carlos Moya and Guillermo Coria at Roland Garros to reach his first Grand Slam final.
With 1,439 points Verkerk jumped 31 places in the rankings, currently led by Australian Lleyton Hewitt with 4,135 points.
Verkerk had not won a single Grand Slam match before the French Open began but wowed the Paris crowds hitting a total of 124 aces in seven matches.
The exuberant 24-year-old was hoping to be the first Dutchman to win the Roland Garros crown but was outplayed in Sunday's final by Juan Carlos Ferrero.
His French Open success has also pushed Verkerk to equal eighth with Spain's Felix Mantilla in the Men's 2003 ATP Champions' Race.
Sunday's champion Ferrero leads the race 85 points clear of second-place Andre Agassi. The top eight players at the end of the season take part in the Tennis Masters Cup.
