Her second-round exit from the Australian Open notwithstanding, Sania Mirza broke back into the top-50 of the WTA rankings, rising to the 48th spot in the list issued on Monday.

The Indian ace, who lost to Japan's Aiko Nakamura (56) to make an early exit from the first Grand Slam of the year, has 453 ranking points.

Sania's doubles ranking has also improved marginally and she is now placed 23rd with 1135 points, up two places from her previous standing.

The 20-year-old will next be seen in action in the 170,000 dollar Pattaya Open in east of Bangkok from February 3 to 11, where she will be up against -- apart from Nakamura -- Russian Maria Kirilenko, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and Australia's Alicia Molik.

Meanwhile, the other Indians in the list continue to be way down with Shikha Uberoi (114.50) at the 228th position, down 20 places from last week.

Veteran Rushmi Chakaravarthi (46.25), however, made some upward movement jumping from 422nd to 396th this week. More than 100 places separated sisters Ankita and Sanaa Bhambri with the former at 410th and the latter occupying the 573rd position.

• Spotted! Sania Mirza in a hijab

At the top, Russian Maria Sharapova (3918) took over as the new world number one, swapping places with Belgium's Justin Henin-Hardenne (3311). Sharapova was crushed 1-6, 2-6 by Serena Williams in the Australian Open final and the win has seen the American zoom from 81st to the 14th spot in the list.

Meanwhile, in the ATP rankings estranged partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have both improved by one spot to be 10th and 29th respectively.