Sania climbs to 77th place in WTA rankings

Teenage sensation Sania Mirza has jumped up by 20 places to move to a career-best 77 in the latest WTA Tour tennis rankings following her quarterfinal appearance in the Dubai Open.

Sania, who defeated much higher ranked opponents including US Open champion and world's number six Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Dubai Open meet, took her points tally to 472 to reach the 77th spot in world ranking, the latest WTA rankings said on Sunday.

Also Read Mankad, Amritraj make most of chance Davenport wins Dubai Open Sania Mirza: India's new sporting star

Sania, 18, starting the week on the 97th place, got the better off seventh ranked Jelena Kostanic in the first round before accounting for Kuznetsova for a place in the quarterfinal. The Indian, however, lost the quarterfinal match to Jelena Jancovic in straight sets.

There were no changes in the rankings of the top four players -- Lindsay Davenport, Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.