The Hindu : Sania is doubles No.1 in the world

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Sania is doubles No.1 in the world

NEW DELHI JULY 15. It took its time in coming, but the official status of being the No.1 junior girls doubles player in the world, has at last been bestowed on the Wimbledon champion Sania Mirza.

The reduction of the draw size from 32 to 16 at The Championships in the junior doubles event of the Wimbledon had made the ITF withhold the bonus points of 180, for the winner.

However, the ITF junior rankings committee was scheduled to review the decision, which it did to eventually put the 16-year-old Sania on top with 790 ITF junior doubles points. Her collection for the Wimbledon title was 360 points.

Sania's doubles partner in the Wimbledon triumph, Alisa Kleybanova of Russia, who celebrated her 14th birthday on Tuesday, also jumped up to be No.4 in doubles with 600 ranking points, behind Kirsten Flipkens (690) of Belgium and Andrea Hlavackova (680) of the Czech Republic.

Leander Paes was the last Indian to be ranked No.1 junior in the world, and he accomplished that honour in singles following his junior Wimbledon title.

Sania continues to stay at No.15 in singles, while Sanaa Bhambri (51), Isha Lakhani (62) and Tara Iyer (72) follow her at a distance.

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