Sania slides to 48th in WTA rankings

NEW DELHI: Nursing a knee injury for more than a month, Sania Mirza dropped two places to 48th in the latest WTA rankings issued on Monday.

The Indian tennis ace, who continues to be out of action since picking up the injury last month, also slipped in the doubles rankings. She slid from her career-high 31st position to be 38th.

In men's doubles, Leander Paes, who scripted India's hard-fought Davis Cup win against Kazakhstan, clings on to his eighth position, while his estranged partner Mahesh Bhupathi continues to languish at the 22nd spot.

In women's singles, the US-based Shikha Uberoi follows Sania at a lowly 239th, which is a drop of two places from her last week's standings.

Veteran Rushmi Chakravarthi came next at 400th, up two spots from previous week. However, Ankita Bhambri experienced a major drop as she slid to 476th from 445th in the latest charts.

Belgian Justine Henin Hardenne continued to lead the pack followed by Russian Maria Sharapova with Amelie Mauresmo of France at the third spot.