Sania conquers Kuznetsova

US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was stunned 6-4, 6-2 by 18-year-old Indian sensation Sania Mirza in the Dubai Open second round on Tuesday.
Mirza is attaining film star status in her homeland after becoming the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in Melbourne last month. She was also the first Indian to win a WTA Tour event in Hyderabad.

Mirza further underlined her potential against Kuznetsova, recovering from a shaky start to produce a supremely confident performance.

The match initially looked like being a major embarrassment for Mirza, who attracted nearly 5,000 spectators consisting mainly of expat workers to the centre court.

She lost the first game to love in 42 seconds as the fourth-seeded Russian fired two aces, and fell behind 4-0 after suffering an ankle injury.

The match turned round dramatically, however, as Mirza banished her early nerves and began to hit the ball sweetly.

Her forehand was especially damaging, and she struck several winning returns against the world number six.

After winning six straight games to take the first set Mirza continued to grow in confidence, pumping her fist and forcing a forehand error from Kuznetsova to break in the first game of the second set.

Urged on by the boisterous crowd, Mirza continued to pound the ball at every opportunity and her efforts were rewarded with a superb forehand winner that gave her a further break to lead 5-2 before closing out in the next game.
Sania now meets Jelena Jankovic, a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 winner over Silvia Farina Elia of Italy, in the quarterfinals. Elia had ousted Venus Williams in the first round on Monday.

“I didn’t think I would win after trailing 4-0,” said Sania. “I think I played my best tennis today.”