Sania can crack top 20, says Bhupathi

CHENNAI: India's tennis doubles ace Mahesh Bhupathi believes Sania Mirza could jump into the top-20 in the WTA ranking.

"She is having a great year. Clearly she has left behind the blues. With a little bit of luck, she can crack the top 20," Bhupathi said while speaking on the sidelines of a promotional event for the Sunfeast Open 2007 to be held in Kolkata from September 17-23.

On his partnership with Sania Mirza in the mixed doubles category, he said "hopefully we will play for a long time and hope to win a couple of grandslams."

The two, pairing for the first time, reached the second round of Wimbledon this year. Bhupathi added that 'there were only a few junior players who were 'good' and it will take them at least five to six years to mature.'

Asked if he would pair up with Leander Paes for the Olympics, he said "that is for the federation to decide."

Bhupathi said a "Mahesh Bhupathi Tennis Academy" might come up in the city next year on the lines of the academies set up in Bangalore and Gurgaon.

Earlier, Bhupathi, sports presenter Charu Sharma, Squash player Dipika Pallikal and actor Trisha Krishnan played an exhibition match as a prelude to the Sunfeast Open.