Davis Cupper Mishra optimistic about Sania reaching top 20

Hyderabad, Aug 6 (UNI) Tennis lovers in Hyderabad are elated at tennis ace Sania Mirza reaching her career best position of 30 in the newly released WTA rankings today.

This is the best ever ranking achived by an Indian in WTA circuit. The 20-year-old Hyderabadi lass had crossed her previous best rank of 31, which she reached last week for the second time after October, 2005.

Talkng to UNI, former Davis Cupper SP Mishra congratulated Sania for showing consistency in the last couple of weeks. He also hoped that she would enter the top 20 in the WTA rankings, but seemed sceptical about whether she can achieve it by the year end.

''This largely depends upon the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open. If the draw favours her, Sania would definitely surge ahead in the rankings. Anyway the next couple of weeks are more important for her to maintain her fitness level,'' he said.

''The improvement in her rankings will largely depend on her subsequent performance. Sania has beaten good players like Akiko Morigami, Tatiana Golovin, Patty Schnyder, Sybille Bammer, Sahar Peer and Dinara Safin,'' he added.

However, he was of the view that it was not an easy job for Sania to come back and continue her winning spree on the circuit after two-and-half-month injury lay off.

''One should not just praise but appreciate her guts and mental toughness,'' Mishra said.

UNI