Sania Mirza advanced to the second round of the Dubai Open yesterday, beating Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 7-5, 6-2.
Sania Mirza advanced to the second round of the Dubai Open yesterday, beating Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 7-5, 6-2.Sania, who lost in the final of the Pattaya Open on Sunday, appeared sluggish at the beginning, and Makarova took full advantage by breaking her in the third game. But once the Hyderabadi ace's forehand became more consistent, she broke back in the eighth game and then dominated.
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Sania Mirza in action at the Pattaya Open in Thailand last week. pic/AP |
Sania is also back in the top 100 on the WTA rankings, jumping 39 rungs after her superb performance at the Pattaya Open.
Sania, who in her fourth WTA final lost to Russian Vera Zvonareva on Sunday, is ranked 87th in the latest charts released yesterday.
Sweet revenge
Meanwhile, former World No 1 Ana Ivanovic won 7-5, 6-4 against Alisa Kleybanova, the aggressive Russian who caused a massive shock last month when she beat Ivanovic in the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne.
"I was looking for revenge but I felt nervous at the start," Ivanovic admitted.
"But I have been very aggressive and serving very well. That;s something I have been working on with Craig (new coach) and I felt confident going on court."
Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova contrived to fall at her first hurdle.
The seventh seeded Russian lost 4-6, 6-3, 0-6 by her Ukraine-born compatriot Elena Vesnina.
"I was so frustrated I felt I was playing against myself," a grumpy-looking Kuznetsova said.
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"I just couldn't do what I wanted to."
