Sania becomes first-ever Indian to break into Top-30

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) Sania Mirza took a major step towards fulfilling her aim of breaking into the top-20 by the year end as she climbed up one place to achieve her highest-ever career ranking of 30, in the latest WTA rankings released today.

Her quarter-final appearance at Acura Classic has ensured she became the first Indian, man or woman, to be in the top-30 after Ramesh Krishnan who was ranked 23 in 1987.

Although the Hyderabadi lass lost the quarter-finals at the Acura Classic in San Diego to evntual winner Maria Sharapova last week, Sania has been enjoying a sensational run at the US courts, toppling players ranked above her at will.

Even the quarter-final straight set defeat at the hands of Sharapova, helped her corner 110 points.

Before this, she had advanced to the finals of the Stanford Classic and the Cincinnati Open. In both those tournaments, she lost to eventual winner Anna Chakvetadze.

In the doubles category, Sania retained her 26th spot after she and Israeli Shahar Peer bowed out in the first round at San Diego.

The recent sucesses has taken her ever-growing earnings to 827,476 dollars.

Also making a splash was Rohan Bopanna who became the first Indian male player since Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi to break into the top-100 in doubles rankings.

''As long as I keep improving and play good tennis, I feel that in the long run, the rankings will take care of themselves,'' Sania had said last week.

She was entered in the main draw of the 600,000 dollars East West Bank Classic at Los Angeles this week, and faces a qualifier in the first round.

''It will be more of a personal achievement if I break into the top-30,'' Sania had said last week. Sure she has kept her word.

UNI