Petrova returns to WTA top 20

Moscow: Former world No.3 Nadia Petrova has returned to the top 20 in the latest WTA rankings published Sunday.

The Russian rose two places to No. 20. Serbia`s Jelena Jankovic and Czech player Lucie Safarova lost out as a result of Petrova`s rise, each dropping one place to 21st and 22nd. Petrova`s stay in the top 20 could be brief, as the rankings will receive a major shake-up after Wimbledon, which starts Monday. Petrova reached the fourth round of last year`s competition before losing to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka, and she will lose ranking points if she fails to repeat the performance. Elsewhere in the rankings, Russia`s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova climbed three places to 30th, while the biggest leap in the top 100 was made by Austria`s Tamira Paszek, who rose 22 places to 37th after reaching the semi-final at Eastbourne. Britain`s Laura Robson entered the top 100 for the first time, climbing 14 places to 97th after making the second round at Birmingham. IANS