India’s tennis star Karman Kaur Thandi has jumped 32 places to reach the 200th spot on World Tennis rankings. The WTA rankings were released on Monday, July 30. This is her career best rank.
Karman’s stellar display at the Jiangxi Open in Nanchang last week has played an instrumental role in getting the rewarding spot.
With this new achievement, Karman has become the sixth Indian woman to crack the top-200 rankings in singles
Karman is now ranked 200th on the WTA list.
Karman Kaur Thandi becomes only the sixth #Indian woman #tennis player to crack the top-200 rankings in singles as she jumped 32 places to reach a career best 200 in the #WTA rankings. pic.twitter.com/ZKsAaiW4rl
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) July 31, 2018
Hailing from Delhi, the 20-year-old tennis player follows in the footsteps of the country’s top singles player, Ankita Raina, who is ranked 195.
Karman won two rounds of qualifying and also her first round over Jia-Jung Lu in a gruelling three-setter.
READ: Ankita Raina Is Fifth Indian Woman To Enter Top 200 Tennis Ranks
“I am happy to climb to top-200. Step by step, I will try to reach my goal of getting into top-150 by the year-end,” an elated Karman told PTI.
Before Karman's incredible entry, Sania Mirza, Nirupama Vaidyanathan, Shikha Uberoi and Sunitha Rao had made it to the top-200
Karman had beaten top player Jia-Jing and claimed her maiden singles title in the ITF Pro circuit last month and at the Navi Mumbai event last year.
The 28-year-old Chinese has won 16 ITF singles title in her career. Karman earned 50 ranking points for her effort.
Karman, who idolises Maria Sharapova, has already got three ITF doubles titles and a couple of Fed Cup appearances for India under her belt
Congratulations to our #Tennis star and #TOPSAthlete @KarmanThandi for rising 32 places in the @WTA singles rankings and becoming only the sixth Indian to enter the #world’s #Top200. #SAI 🇮🇳🎾 pic.twitter.com/jWJ9s81X9D
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 30, 2018
Karman was recommended by 12-time Grand Slam winner Mahesh Bhupathi, who helped enrol her name in Patrice Mouratoglou’s academy in France. Mouratoglou has been the coach of former World No.1 Serena Williams.
She is currently training under the guidance of Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, who has also coached World No.1 Angelique Kerber. Karman spoke to News18 passionately about her training, She said, “It is one of the best academies in the world. They make us feel so comfortable, and look after us so well. They motivate us to improve every day. Even if I am away, I can message the coaches and talk to them any time I want.”
Congratulations to you, Karman!
Feature Image Credit: Sportskeeda.com