TENNIS in DEPTH.

The biggest ranking gains from where they started the year.

Andrea Petkovic: No.379 to No.56 = 323 places up

The 22-year-old German had only won three Tour main draw matches before running off five in a row en route to an unlikely title in Bad Gastein in July . The very next week, she won three more matches en route to a semifinal showing in Istanbul, resulting in her rising to a career-high of No.52 on August 3.

Alexandra Dulgheru: No.343 to No.51 = 292 places up

The 20-year-old Romanian shot up the rankings and into the spotlight by capturing the Premier-level title in Warsaw in May. Ranked No.201 at the start of the week, it was her first-ever Tour main draw event. She also was victorious at three ITF Circuit events. She established her career-high ranking of No.51 on the November 9 year-end rankings.

Arantxa Parra Santonja: No.296 to No.91 = 205 places up

The Spaniard’s rise was fueled by improving her match record from 18-12 in 2008 to 36-20 in 2009, which included two ITF Circuit titles.

Tatjana Malek: No.240 to No.68 = 172 places up

The German’s ascension was triggered by her first career Tour singles quarterfinal showing in Barcelona and three ITF Circuit titles. She achieved her career-high of No.64 on September 14.

The biggest ranking declines from where they started the year:

Tsvetana Pironkova: No.44 to No.99 = 55 places down

Although she did make the quarterfinals in Hobart and Moscow this year, the Bulgarian’s 23-27 match record did not measure up to 2008 when her 36-23 record included a Tour semifinal showing and quarterfinal appearance.

Anna Chakvetadze: No.18 to No.70 = 52 places down

The Russian had her lowest season-ending ranking since 2004, only making it as far as the quarters in one event – New Haven, a year after having one title, one runner-up showing, one semifinal appearance and three quarterfinal showings.

Anne Keothavong: No.60 to No.100 = 40 places down

Her season-ending ranking of No.100 was actually her second-best in 11 years on Tour and her season included three of her four career semifinal showings. So how to explain her rankings decline from where she started 2009? Injury. She did not play after July, when she suffered a knee injury. In fact, she was ranked No.54 at the start of her last event, so she actually would have risen in the rankings from season’s start to finish if the year concluded in July.

Alizé Cornet: No.15 to No.50 = 35 places down

The French teenager looked to be a rising star on Tour in 2008, winning one singles title and having one runner-up showing and three semifinal appearances. However, she took a step back this year, with her semifinal showing in Bad Gastein her best result. Also, her match record fell from 37-24 last year to 20-28 this year.

Kaia Kanepi: No.26 to No.61 = 35 places down

The Estonian actually finished 2009 with her second-highest ranking ever, but her season still paled in comparison to 2008, when she had one runner-up showing, two semifinal appearances and four quarterfinal showings on Tour, including at Roland Garros. Her 2009 season was highlighted by one semifinal appearance and two quarterfinal showings. Unfortunately, after her quarterfinal showing in Rome in May, she did not win another match the rest of the season, going 0-11 from there (0-12 when including the loss in Rome).

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