Sania to partner Bhupathi in US Open

NEW DELHI: Sania Mirza continued to move up in world rankings, reaching a new career-high of 28th position in the latest WTA Tour chart released on Monday.

The 20-year-old Indian, who was placed at 29 last week, gained one spot despite being off the courts.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabadi girl will partner multiple Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi in mixed doubles at the US Open starting on August 27 in New York.

The duo had come together on tennis biggest stage at Wimbledon -- where they lost in the second round -- earlier this year.

Sania has entered the $600,000 Pilot Pen championships in New Haven, Connecticut, this week.

She was to play Anabel Medina Garrigues in the singles first round of the final tune-up event for the US Open.

Sania has paired with Mara Santangelo of Italy in doubles although she will partner Bethanie Mattek at Flushing Meadows.

Sania and Mattek had a combined ranking of 83 which was too close to the cut-off mark of 85. But the cut-off at US Open would be much lower since the draw size is 32 whereas it is 16 in Connecticut.

In men's rankings, Rohan Bopanna (223) and Prakash Amritraj (270) held their positions to be the top Indian singles players while Karan Rastogi slipped one rung to 340.

Bopanna, who triumphed with Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in the $50,000 Challenger event in Bronx, New York, moved up five places to 84 in doubles rankings.

Leander Paes, who reached the semifinals with Czech Republic's Martin Damm in Cincinnati last week, gained one spot to be eighth while Mahesh Bhupathi slid one place to 20th.