World No 32 Sania Mirza has not set any goals but hopes to end the 2008 season on a brighter note than the one gone by.
At a function as brand ambassador of Deutesche Bank in Chennai, on the eve of her 21st birthday, Mirza said she is trying her best to push up her ranking.
"I am playing my best and will strive to achieve a ranking of 20 before the end of the 2008 season."
She is ranked 27 on the WTA tour-ending race for the year 2007.
Mirza, whose earnings this year touched US $395,597, having a win-loss ratio of 30-19 in singles, parried questions on the issue of fixing of matches in the men's circuit, saying, "It does not happen in the women's circuit to my knowledge. I have not experienced any such instances. If it is happening on the ATP circuit, it is not good for the game. I am not that experienced to make any comment on such things."
Terming Justine Henin as a terror on the WTA circuit, she said, "Henin is Lady Federer. She is what Federer (Roger) is on the men's circuit. She is a terror for all women players and she wins whatever tournament that she competes in."
On injury issues, she said she played more matches this year.
"My knee injury was a freak accident. It hurts only when I serve. Every athlete in the circuit suffers from such niggling injuries. It cannot be avoided when you are playing at that level but sometimes injuries also help you to do better since you had to work harder to strive for positive results."
Mirza, who did not have a personal coach for most of the year while playing on different surfaces but won four doubles titles with four different partners, said she is keeping her options open on a permanent coach.
"At this point of time, I have not decided to have a coach. I am keeping my options open amongst three people. I have not zeroed in on any one particularly. I will disclose, if I decide to have one, at the appropriate time," she said, adding frequent changes in coaches does not distract her play.
She won four doubles titles this year -- with Americans Vania King (Morocco Open) and Bethaine Mattek (Cincinnati Open), Israeli Shahar Peer (Stanford) and Mara Santangelo (New Haven) -- before the US Open, where she lost in the third round to her nemesis, Anna Chakvetadze of Russia.
The Indian also lost the title clash at Stanford to Chakvetadze.
"I play both singles and doubles. Singles is my specific focus. I cannot help but have different partners in doubles play. I have played with different partners this year and have been comfortable with each one of them," she said.
