Lacklusture Sania ends WTA season as world No.66

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) A testimony to the drop in her form, Sania Mirza, who ended 2005 at a career best 31st, will end the current season as world number 66 in the latest WTA rankings issued today.

Sania, who will be teaming up with Leander Paes for the Asian Hopman Cup starting November 22, has 382 ranking points in the singles list, which is a big drop from her standings last season.

The Indian, however, has reason to smile as she has risen to a career-best 24th in the doubles list with 1070 points.

Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, meanwhile, has regained the top spot to end the season as world number one overtaking French Amelie Mauresmo. This is the second time she has finished a season as the world number one player after her top finish in 2003.

''To end the season as No.1 in the world is very exciting and an accomplishment I'm very proud of, especially because there were three players who could have been No.1 at the end of the year,'' Henin-Hardenne was quoted by the WTA official website as saying.

''This season was full of great moments for me and to get the top ranking back makes it even better,'' the Belgian added.

Russian Maria Sharapova finished second followed by Mauresmo.

Swiss Martina Hingis, who returned to action after a long injury layoff, capped a remarkable season with a seventh spot finish on the WTA list.

Meanwhile, the disappointing finish from Sania aprt, the other Indians in the WTA singles chart also could not make much improvement. The US-based Shikha Uberoi (129.75) dropped one place to finish 206th, followed by Ankita Bhambri (42.50) at 418.

Veteran Rushmi Chakravarthi (35.25) improved five places to end the season at 463rd position, followed by Sanaa Bhambri (18.25) at 633rd spot.

Top 10: 1. Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) 3998, 2. Maria Sharapova (Russia) 3532, 3. Amelie Mauresmo (France) 3391, 4. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 2523, 5. Kim Clijsters (Belgium) 2215, 6. Nadia Petrova (Russia) 2189, 7. Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 2018, 8. Elena Dementieva (Russia) 1875, 9. Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 1578, 10. Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic) 1391 UNI PM VA DB1221