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Rediff.com  » Sports » Tennis Rankings: Sania Mirza jumps to career-best 5th spot
This article was first published 9 years ago

Tennis Rankings: Sania Mirza jumps to career-best 5th spot

July 07, 2014 11:05 IST

Image: Sania Mirza of India plays a backhand
Photographs: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza achieved a career-best rank of No 5 in the world as the new WTA doubles chart was released on Monday.

Sania, who turned a pro in 2003 and overcame a career-threatening wrist injury in between, has entered the top-five for the first time in her career.

Sania and her Zimbabwean partner Cara Black could not go deep in the just concluded Wimbledon championships, but a second round appearance fetched her crucial 130 ranking points, enough to push her in the top-5.

...

'My career seemed to be over'

Image: Sania Mirza
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com

"Its been a long hard journey since my comeback to tennis from my third surgery when my career seemed to be over. It is a very satisfying feeling to have bounced back from those despairing times and to be ranked in the top-5 of the world today," Sania said.

Her father and coach Imran Mirza said, "I've always believed Sania had the potential to be a top-5 player. I'm happy she has overcome heavy odds to justify her promise."

...

Paes remained unchanged at No 13

Image: Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic and Leander Paes of India
Photographs: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

In the singles rankings, Ankita gained one place to be 285 as country's best player.

Meanwhile in the ATP rankings, Somdev Devvarman's dropped 10 places to 135 as his poor run continued unabated.

In the doubles, Leander Paes remained unchanged at number 13 and was highest ranked player from the country. Rohan Bopanna dropped three places to sit on the edge of top-20.