New Delhi:
Rising tennis star Somdev Devvarman on Monday became the first Indian after Leander Paes to break into the top-100 of ATP rankings, reaching a career-high 96th in the latest list issued on Monday.
Somdev rose seven rungs in the chart and has 540 points. The 25-year-old is the first Indian in 11 years to be inside the top-100 bracket.
Paes was ranked as high as 73 in 1998 before he decided to focus on doubles.
Ramesh Krishnan (23rd in 1985) and Vijay Amritraj (16th in 1980) were the other Indian players, who figured in the top-100 in their playing days.
Somdev rose to prominence in 2007 and has since made the cut for India's Davis Cup. He has now become the top singles player for the country and has also been a proven giant-killer on the ATP circuit.
Somdev reached his maiden ATP Tour event finals in last year's Chennai Open, beating more established players like Carlos Moya of Spain and Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the process.
Somdev also reached the ATP Tour quarterfinal of the South African Open in Johannesburg the same year before leading India's singles challenge in the Davis Cup tie against Russia.
Somdev qualified for this year's French Open and went down fighting against Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli 63, 36, 63, 36, 63 in the first round.