Mikaelian profits from Basel run

Mikaelian celebrates after reaching her first WTA final last week Keystone

Swiss tennis player Marie-Gaïané Mikaelian has climbed to within eight places of the world's top 100, following her impressive performance in reaching the final of last week's WTA tournament in Basel.

Mikaelian’s run to Sunday’s final, where she was eventually stopped in straight sets by the Czech Republic’s Adriana Gersi, has helped lift her to 108th in the WTA rankings, a climb of 59 places.

Armenian father

The Swiss tennis association are yet to make sure of Mikaelian’s services on a permanent basis. The 17-year-old from canton Vaud has an Armenian father who has accused the national association of neglecting his daughter’s talent in the past.

Mikaelian has represented Armenia at a number of junior tournaments, including last month when she won the under-18 European Championships in Klosters.

Hingis stays top

There was more good news on Monday for another Swiss of eastern European origins, with Martina Hingis holding onto top spot in the world rankings.

Hingis is just over one thousand points clear of America’s Jennifer Capriati, whose compatriots Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams are in third and fourth place respectively.

This week Hingis is competing as top seed at the WTA tournament in California, where she has been given a bye into the second round.

Federer holds firm

In the men’s rankings, Swiss number one Roger Federer has held onto 14th place. The 20-year-old from Basel has had to pull out of this week’s ATP Masters Series tournament in Cincinnati with a thigh injury.

Swiss number two Michel Kratochvil has slipped back one place to 69th, while Marc Rosset is back in the top 100 after climbing seven places to 94th.

WTA Rankings: 1. Martina Hingis 2. Jennifer Capriati (USA) 3. Lindsay Davenport (USA) 4. Venus Williams (USA) 5. Kim Clijsters (Bel) 6. Justine Henin (Bel) 7. Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) 8. Serena Williams (USA) 9. Nathalie Tauziat (Fra) 10. Monica Seles (USA) … 35. Patty Schnyder 86. Miroslava Vavrinec 87. Emmanuelle Gagliardi 108. Marie-Gaïané Mikaelian

ATP Rankings : 1. Gustavo Kuerten (Bra) 2. Andre Agassi (USA) 3. Marat Safin (Rus) 4. Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa) 5. Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) 6. Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Rus) 7. Patrick Rafter (Aus) 8. Tim Henman (GB) 9. Sébastien Grosjean (Fra) 10. Alex Corretja (Spa)… 14. Roger Federer 69. Michel Kratochvil 94. Marc Rosset 117. George Bastl 131. Ivo Heuberger 226. Lorenzo Manta

swissinfo with agencies