Sania moves up one place in WTA rankings

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) Sania Mirza begins the season at 65th rank in the WTA chart, one place better than the previous year-ending mark, according to the latest list released today.

The 20-year-old Hyderabadi's form in the previous year had been a cause of concern considering her grand entry into the women's circuit in 2005.

In that year, she became the first Indian to win a WTA event and reached her best rankings of 31st in October before slipping to a lowly 66th by the end of 2006.

But her fine show at the Hopman Cup mixed team championship in Perth last week must have done a world of good to her confidence.

In Perth, she and Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna just missed the bus for the title round, losing to eventual runners-up Spain at the last group league tie after recording upset wins over Czech Republic and Croatia.

Sania opens the season at the 145,000 dollar tier IV Moorilla Hobart International this week ahead of the Australian Open starting in Melbourne from January 15.

Among other Indian women, only Shikha Uberoi slippe two places to 208 while Ankita Bhambri (414), Isha Lakhani (422) and Rushmi Chakravarthi (423) moved up one place each.

Meanwhile, Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne still leads the WTA chart, followed by Russian Maria Sharapova and Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, according to information received here today.

UNI