Sania Mirza equals career-best fifth rank in world

NEW DELHI: Sania Mirza took a step forward in her quest to become world number one as the Indian equalled her career-best doubles rank of five today, following her stupendous title win at the WTA Apia International with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in Sydney.

Sania earned 470 points, which pushed the Indian to fifth, replacing her doubles partner Su-Wei Hsieh. Sania had achieved the top-5 rank last year too in July.

Sania had a great 2014 season and she has made a decent start to the new season, reaching the semifinals at Brisbane event and winning the title in Sydney.

"Being in top-five of the world in nay field feels amazing and it's wonderful to have achieved my career-best rank this week. But if I stay away from injuries, I feel I could go further in the coming months," Sania told PTI from Melbourne.

From Monday onwards, Sania will be seen in action at the Australian Open where she and Su-Wei are seeded second. They open their campaign against Argentina's Maria Irigoyen and Swiss girl Romina Oprandi.

Sania may meet her last season's partner Cara Black in the second round, provided both of them clear the first round.

Zimbabwe's Black and her Chinese partner Saisai Zheng are up against Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Alicja Rosolska of Poland.