Sania moves up 10 spots

Calcutta: Sania Mirza was a gainer despite losing in the first round of the Australian Open. The 24-year-old Indian moved up 10 places to be ranked 135 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association chart released Monday.
However, Sania lost points in the doubles. From 55, she is currently placed 66, after losing in the first round in Melbourne.In the Association of Tennis Professionals chart, Somdev Dev Varman lost two places to be ranked 110. In the doubles list, Mahesh Bhupathi (5) and Leander Paes (6), who made the final of the Australian Open, remained static.

For the first time, the top 10 players in the rankings represent 10 different countries.

The WTA says 11 different nations are represented among the top 11 spots and 30 different countries among the top 60 in Monday’s rankings. WTA Chair and CEO Stacey Allaster says “having 10 different players represent the top 10 rankings shows how truly global tennis has become.”

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki remains No. 1, followed by Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium, Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, Italy’s Francesca Schiavone and Australia’s Sam Stosur.

The next five: Venus Williams of the United States, China’s Li Na, Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.