Sania's meteoric rise

A disappointed Sania Mirza reacts after missing a ball against Serbian opponent Jelena Jancovic, during their quarter-final match at the Dubai Open tennis Tournament on Thursday, March 3, 2005. Jelena Jancovic won the match 6-2, 6-2.(AP Photo) BANGALORE: Sania Mirza's "meteoric" rise has signalled the dawn of a new era in Indian tennis, former Davis Cupper Ramesh Krishnan says but feels the teenager needs to work on her game a lot to face all kinds of situations on court. "In the last six weeks or so, Sania's rise has been meteoric," the former Indian Davis Cup captain said. A veteran of many Davis Cup battles, Krishnan said there is room for improvement as far as Sania's game is concerned. "From what little I have seen, she seems to prefer a high bouncing court. She needs to be ready to face all situations." Sania Mirza returns the ball to opponent Jelena Jancovic, during their quarter-final match at the Dubai Open tennis Tournament on Thursday, March 3, 2005. Jelena Jancovic won the match 6-2, 6-2.(AFP Photo) Krishnan, who runs a tennis academy in Chennai, described Sania’s performance till the quarter-final stage at Dubai Open this week as "outstanding". On her way to the last quarters, 97-ranked Sania defeated World number 36 Jelena Kostanic of Croatia and and then overpowered US Open champion and world number seven Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia. She however lost to world number 28 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia in the quarter-finals. Sania Mirza returns the ball to Svetlana Kuznetsova, of Russia, during the second round match at the Dubai Open tennis tournament on Tuesday, March 1, 2005. Sania won 6-4,6-2.(AP Photo) Tennis sensation Sania Mirza created waves in the Indian sports arena when she reached the third round of Australian Open in Melbourne. The 18-year-old Mirza, who got a wild card entry into the Australian Open in Melbourne, however, lost to Williams. Williams took just 56 minutes to defeat Mirza and sail into the fourth round. Sania shot to top 100 after winning her first WTA title in Hyderabad. Sania Mirza hits a return to Jelena Kostanic, of Croatia, during the second round match at the Dubai Open tournament on Monday, February 28, 2005. Sania Mirza won 7-6, 6-4, 6-1. (AP Photo) On Sania's ability to break into the top 50 Krishnan said, "That would be premature to talk at this point in time." Sania who aims to be among the top 50 by the end of the year, could see her ranking climb to 77, after her successful run at Dubai Open. India needs to produce many more "Sanias" to promote tennis in a big way, he said. "You need good infrastructure - be it training or competition so that any outstanding talent will come through."