Daniilidou eager to regain top-20 spot

Dubai: Former top-20 player Eleni Daniilidou wants to regain her rightful place in the Sony Ericsson WTA Rankings by the end of the year.

"Yes, I admit it is a lofty goal to target for a top-20 place. But then, I have been there before and I think I can achieve it again," Daniilidou said after moving into the second round on Monday.

Daniilidou had a career-high ranking of 14 in May, 2003. But injuries hurt not only her placing, but also eroded her confidence.

"Basically, I'm a sensitive person and if I go on a losing streak it is going to affect someone like me much more than others," she said.

The past year has not been easy on the Greek either. She split with her coach. "It was hard to stay positive with all that was happening around me," Daniilidou said.

"It's not just the physical part that gets to you. There is so much emphasis on the mental aspect as well. And once you know how to find the right balance between these two factors, then only can you get things going," she said.