Her ranking, around 160 before she left Mumbai, had moved to 98 after the second leg in Zimbabwe. ``If you add the 40 points I earned for winning the Grade Four event in Zambia, my ranking is bound to get better,'' a satisfied Sonal told The Indian Express today.

In the final at Zambia, Sonal defeated top-seeded African Patricia Osedumme, ranked 111, 6-3, 6-1. It followed two good finishes in Grade III events in Blantyre, Malawi, where she won, and Harare (Zimbabwe), where she finished runner-up to Anat Elazari of Israel.

The victories have fallen in with Sonal's state plans: To muster enough points to make it to the main draw of Grade A events, the Grand Slams. ``I decided to skipthe Junior Nationals to participate in these events. The points will definitely help me qualify for the Grand Slams.'' The only other Indian girl in the top 100 is Sheetal Gautham, ranked 89.

Though the Greece ITF circuit is the next event on the calendar, Sonal will give it a miss to get into shape for the East Asian circuit -- Chinese Taipei, China and Vietnam -- in late October. She will also contest the Shriram Open, the all-India women's hardcourt event in Delhi.

While the junior circuit offers points -- and Sonal notched 150 to take her tally to 260 -- there is no prize money. Sonal's mother, elated with her daughter's performance, said, ``We would like to send her for more tournaments, but it is prohibitively expensive. We are looking for sponsors for her.''