SPORTS> China
Li Na equals personal best
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-28 09:30

China's Li Na has equaled her national ranking record while two players head to Doha at new career-highs, according to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles rankings on Monday.

Despite not playing last week, Li rose from No 16 to No 15 this week, her new career-high and equal to the previous Chinese world ranking record, set by Zheng Jie this year. Li went up after Ana Ivanovic fell from No 14 to No 22.

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Meanwhile, American Venus Williams dipped from No 4 to No 7 and Russia's Vera Zvonareva fell from No 7 to No 9 - which paved the way for two of the game's brightest young stars to rise up to new career-highs. Caroline Wozniacki went from No 6 to No 4 and Victoria Azarenka went from No 8 to No 6. Both are making their very first appearances at this week's Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

Although it is not her first time, Dinara Safina also returned to No 1 this week for her 26th career week at the top spot. After two weeks at No 2 behind Serena Williams, the Russian will battle it out with the American in Doha this week. Whoever does better will finish the season as the world's No 1.

The Moscow and Luxembourg champions also soared up the rankings, although neither set career highs. Francesca Schiavone, a former world No 11, rose from No 24 to No 17 after winning her second and biggest Tour singles title at the Kremlin Cup; Timea Bacsinszky, who has been as high as No 48, surged from No 70 to No 55 after her first Tour title at the BGL Luxembourg Open.

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