Russia's Sharapova 15th in WTA rankings

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova climbed up 10 spots in the Women Tennis Association's rankings to 15th place on Monday.

MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova climbed up 10 spots in the Women Tennis Association's rankings to 15th place on Monday.

Sharapova, 22, confessed on Saturday she was returning to her best after a long layoff caused by a pectoral injury.

The rankings, topped by Russia's Dinara Safina with 8250 points, also include another two Russian tennis players, Elena Dementieva, ranked fourth with 6367 points, and Vera Zvonavera (5160), who holds seventh place.

U.S. sisters Serena Williams (7806) and Venus Williams (6367) took second and third places, respectively.

In 2005, Sharapova was the first Russian to hold the top spot in the WTA rankings.