Sania re-enters top-50 in WTA Rankings

New Delhi, Jan 29: Her second-round exit from the Australian Opennotwithstanding, Sania Mirza broke back into the top-50 of the WTArankings, rising to the 48th spot in the list issued today.

The Indian ace, who lost to Japan's Aiko Nakamura (56) to make anearly sxit from the first Grand Slam of the year, has 453 rankingpoints.

Sania's doubles ranking has also improved marginally and she isnow placed 23rd with 1135 points, up two places from her previousstanding.

The 20-year-old will next be seen in action in the 170,000 dollarPattaya Open in east of Bangkok from February 3 to 11, where whe willbe up against -- apart from Nakamura -- Russian Maria Kirilenko,Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and Australia's Alicia Molik.

Meanwhile, the other Indians in the list continue to be way downwith Shikha Uberoi (114.50) at the 228th position, down 20 places fromlast week.

Veteran Rushmi Chakaravarthi (46.25), however, made some upwardmovement jumping from 422nd to 396th this week. More than 100 placesseperated sisters Ankita and Sanaa Bhambri with the former at 410th andthe latter occupying the 573rd position.

At the top, Russian Maria Sharapova (3918) took over as the newworld number one, swapping places with Belgium's Justin Henin-Hardenne(3311). Sharapova was crushed 1-6, 2-6 by Serena Williams in theAustralian open final and the win has seen the American zoom from 81stto the 14th spot in the list.

Meanwhile, in the ATP rankings estranged partners Leander Paes andMahesh Bhupathi have both improved by one spot to be 10th and 29threspectively.


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