London, June 30 (UNI): Sania Mirza and her Dutch partner Michaella Krajicek moved into the second round of the women's doubles event with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over the French-Italian pair of Stephanie Foretz and Antonella Serra Zanetti at the Wimbledon here.
Sania and Krajicek will now take on the the winner of the other first round clash between eighth seed Russian-Italian pair of Elena Dementieva and Flavia Pennetta and Austrian-Greman duo of Sybille Bammer and Julia Schruff.
In the men's doubles event, seventh seeded Indo-Czech pair of Leander Paes and Martin Damm also won their first round clash against the Serbian-Russian combine of Janko Tipsarevic and Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 after the latter retired in the third set.
They will now take on the winner of the match between Jan Hernych and David Skoch of Czechoslovakia and Jarkko Nieminen and Graydon Oliver (Finland/USA).
Sania and Krajicek were off to a good start against their opponents and raced away with the first set but Stephanie and Antonella made a comeback in the second and caught the Indo-Dutch unawares to take the match into the decider.
However, the French-Italian pair ran out of steam in the third and Sania and Krajicek regained their composure to take the set and seal the match in their favour.
In the match between Paes-Damm and Tipsarevic-Youzhny, the seventh seeds were stretched by their unheralded opponents, who fought hard to force a tie-breaker in the first set but the experienced Indo-Czech pair held their nerves to get past their rivals.
Paes and Damm then raced away with the second set before the Serbian-Russian pair retired from the match.
Friday, June 30, 2006
It's tough to play against No 7: Sania
LONDON, June 29: In her first round match against the seventh seed Russian, Elena Dementieva, the 38th ranked Sania started rather impressively before losing her way. In an exclusive chat with Times of India , the 19-year old looks back on her defeat and talks about the pressures of catering to a billion hopes.
On her thoughts about her first-round match against Dementieva:
I had those three bad games in the first set. But I held back together after that. I don't think I lost because of those three games. I think I played a decent match. It's tough when you are playing No. 7 in the world in your first round match.
On the fact that she needed just one game after leading 4-1 and 5-2 to wrap up the first set:
Just one game! Believe me, it's not that easy. When you are playing No. 7 in the world, you always expect her to comeback. Then a lot of other things count, your nerves, your groundstrokes, the way she is moving, (and she is one of the best movers in women's game), she traded some big shots and won. She's known for coming back when she's down.
On whether a dream debut last year has been followed by a nightmare this year:
Nightmare! No, not really. I am not very disappointed. I think I played a great match. The draw, the luck, wasn't in my favour. I played former champ (Anastasia) Myskina who loves clay - at French. Here I was pitted against the No. 7 in the world.
On whether she's learnt to deal with the burden of expectations:
Well, people haven't left me with any choice. It's hard, because I can't block out everything, but most of it I can, I'm pretty good at it. I have learnt, how you are taken up as soon as you win a match, and the minute you lose, you are pulled down by the same people.
On her thoughts about her first-round match against Dementieva:
I had those three bad games in the first set. But I held back together after that. I don't think I lost because of those three games. I think I played a decent match. It's tough when you are playing No. 7 in the world in your first round match.
On the fact that she needed just one game after leading 4-1 and 5-2 to wrap up the first set:
Just one game! Believe me, it's not that easy. When you are playing No. 7 in the world, you always expect her to comeback. Then a lot of other things count, your nerves, your groundstrokes, the way she is moving, (and she is one of the best movers in women's game), she traded some big shots and won. She's known for coming back when she's down.
On whether a dream debut last year has been followed by a nightmare this year:
Nightmare! No, not really. I am not very disappointed. I think I played a great match. The draw, the luck, wasn't in my favour. I played former champ (Anastasia) Myskina who loves clay - at French. Here I was pitted against the No. 7 in the world.
On whether she's learnt to deal with the burden of expectations:
Well, people haven't left me with any choice. It's hard, because I can't block out everything, but most of it I can, I'm pretty good at it. I have learnt, how you are taken up as soon as you win a match, and the minute you lose, you are pulled down by the same people.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Sania bows out of Wimbledon in first round
Sania Mirza bowed out of the women's singles in the Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis with a 7-6, 7-5 loss to seventh seed Elena Dementieva of Russia in the first round on Wednesday.
Sania was leading 5-2 in the first set after the two players traded breaks of serve.
A spurt of unforced errors from Sania's racquet then allowed Dementieva to win the next four games and make it 6-5.
The 19-year-old Indian then won the 12th game with an ace and pushed the set into the tie-breaker.
Sania was 5-4 up in the shootout before she put a backhand wide and the Russian followed it up with a forehand winner to go 6-5 up.
A Sania forehand then went just wide to give the set to Dementieva.
In the second set, the Hyderabadi teenager saved two break points in the very first game but could not stop her opponent from gaining a 3-2 lead. She then fought back to level the scores at 4-4.
A tiring Sania then sprayed her shots to lose serve once more and went down 4-5.
But Sania kept fighting as she forced three break points when Dementieva served for the match and converted the third when her rival hit a forehand long.
But Dementieva hit back to force two break points of her own and went up 6-5.
Dementieva then made no mistakes when she served for the match for the second time and won the tie after one hour and 25 minutes.
Sania was leading 5-2 in the first set after the two players traded breaks of serve.
A spurt of unforced errors from Sania's racquet then allowed Dementieva to win the next four games and make it 6-5.
The 19-year-old Indian then won the 12th game with an ace and pushed the set into the tie-breaker.
Sania was 5-4 up in the shootout before she put a backhand wide and the Russian followed it up with a forehand winner to go 6-5 up.
A Sania forehand then went just wide to give the set to Dementieva.
In the second set, the Hyderabadi teenager saved two break points in the very first game but could not stop her opponent from gaining a 3-2 lead. She then fought back to level the scores at 4-4.
A tiring Sania then sprayed her shots to lose serve once more and went down 4-5.
But Sania kept fighting as she forced three break points when Dementieva served for the match and converted the third when her rival hit a forehand long.
But Dementieva hit back to force two break points of her own and went up 6-5.
Dementieva then made no mistakes when she served for the match for the second time and won the tie after one hour and 25 minutes.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sania keen to set record straight against Dementieva
Sania Mirza is undaunted by the tough draw handed out to her at the Wimbledon Grand Slam and hopes to do one-set better than last time when she takes on seventh seed Elena Dementieva in the singles opening round.
"Obviously, this is a very tough first round and the problem with playing a top-10 player is that unless you play at your best, they have the capacity to humiliate you on court," Sania said.
The Russian beat the 19-year old Indian 5-7 6-4 6-4 the last and only time they met at Indian Wells earlier this year.
The Hyderabadi lass is keen to set that 0-1 head-to-head record straight against Dementieva.
"She is one of the hardest strikers of the ball that I have ever played against. I played a very tight three-setter against her last time and I hope to give a good account myself this time," Sania said.
The teenager caused ripples on her maiden appearance at Wimbledon last year when she gave Svetlana Kuznetsova a run for her money before going down in the second round.
"I hope to make it as memorable as my last year," she said.
The preparations have not gone exactly according to plans, though.
Although she reached the third round at the DFS Classic - her best performance of the season - a fortnight back, a lack of communication saw her land in Don Bosch, Holland, last week instead of slugging it out against the cream of women's tennis at Eastbourne in London. (PTI)
"Obviously, this is a very tough first round and the problem with playing a top-10 player is that unless you play at your best, they have the capacity to humiliate you on court," Sania said.
The Russian beat the 19-year old Indian 5-7 6-4 6-4 the last and only time they met at Indian Wells earlier this year.
The Hyderabadi lass is keen to set that 0-1 head-to-head record straight against Dementieva.
"She is one of the hardest strikers of the ball that I have ever played against. I played a very tight three-setter against her last time and I hope to give a good account myself this time," Sania said.
The teenager caused ripples on her maiden appearance at Wimbledon last year when she gave Svetlana Kuznetsova a run for her money before going down in the second round.
"I hope to make it as memorable as my last year," she said.
The preparations have not gone exactly according to plans, though.
Although she reached the third round at the DFS Classic - her best performance of the season - a fortnight back, a lack of communication saw her land in Don Bosch, Holland, last week instead of slugging it out against the cream of women's tennis at Eastbourne in London. (PTI)
Friday, June 23, 2006
Why one billion people can't be wrong about Mirza
YOU don't want to mess with Sania Mirza. 'You can either agree with me or be wrong' read the slogan on one of her figure-hugging tee-shirts. 'Well-behaved women rarely make history' read another, worn at Wimbledon last year, while 'I'm cute? No shit' was emblazoned across her frontage at the US Open in September. Ms Mirza has attitude, in case you had not guessed.
When players talk about pressure, they sigh and try to explain what it is like to have a crowd of tennis fans taking an unnatural interest in their every move. Mirza, though, comes from India and not only faces the regular trials and tribulations of a professional athlete and celebrity, she also has one billion people at home following, and discussing, her progress. She admires the likes of Tim Henman and Andy Murray for the way they cope with the media circus that follows them at Wimbledon, but she knows that the pressure she faces is on another level again. "The only difference is that I have a billion people following them and they don't!" she laughed. "I am from India and I have to face it. These are the pressures I'm going to have for the rest of my life and there's nothing I can do about it.
"This is what my country is like and people in India get very emotional about their heroes."
Coming from a nation, and, indeed, a family, of cricket lovers, Mirza broke the mould from the moment she picked up a tennis racket at the age of six. Her talent was obvious from the start but with little by way of training facilities in her home town of Hyderabad, and with only her father to teach her, she constructed a style for herself that is based more on determination than traditional technique. As in everything else in her young life - she is just 19 - she has taken on tennis and done it her way. Her competitive fire has already brought her one tournament title - her home town event last year - and a current ranking of 38 in the world. Like most teenagers, she is not yet ready to become a leader for her generation but, still, she is regarded as either an icon or "a corrupting influence" in her home country. She is a practising Muslim but some more right-wing clerics in India have already attacked her for appearing in public in her tennis kit, clothing they deem to be highly unsuitable for a young woman. One group of fundamentalists even went as far as to issue a fatwa against her, threatening to stop her from playing unless she followed the Islamic dress code.
Fortunately for Mirza, India is a very large country and a large proportion of the 100 million Muslims living there are just pleased to see her succeed. Admittedly, these days she has bodyguards to protect her when she goes home, but they are there to fend off as many autograph hunters and journalists as religious zealots.
It is a lot for anyone to take on board, much less a teenager, but Mirza is a tough cookie. Sharp as a tack, willing and able to defend herself but also ready to laugh at the absurdities of her life, she does her best to put everything into perspective.
When her doubles partner, Liezel Huber, complained that the Bangalore crowd was too noisy as the duo were on the way to claiming the title this year, Mirza reminded her "you know what, you'd rather have them with you than against you".
"So you just have to take everything optimistically," Mirza said. She takes the same attitude to her career. She announced herself as a contender last year by winning in Hyderabad but this year the opposition has sized her up, worked out her weaknesses - her serve - and kept her quiet. Her best result came in Birmingham last week where she reached the third round. Enlisting the help of Tony Roche, Roger Federer's mentor, to sort out that serve, she is keeping her expectations to a minimum while she reconstructs her game and plans her move towards the elite level.
"There are so many people in India who believe I can be No.1 in the world by the end of the year," she said, "and if I start saying that I am going to top ten, then that will just put extra pressure on me. That's why I want to set myself realistic goals. If I stay in the top 50 this year, then that will be achieving my goal, but if stay in the top 25 then that will also be achieving my goal. But I think my main goal is never to be satisfied."
In theory, her plans for Wimbledon this year should also be low-key. But Mirza is both a fighter and a realist and at 19, she has plenty of time to develop her career. And with so many people following her, she will never be short on support. "Wherever I'm playing, whether it's at home or at Wimbledon, the amount of Indians that live in Wimbledon, it almost feels like home," she said. One billion people can't be wrong.
When players talk about pressure, they sigh and try to explain what it is like to have a crowd of tennis fans taking an unnatural interest in their every move. Mirza, though, comes from India and not only faces the regular trials and tribulations of a professional athlete and celebrity, she also has one billion people at home following, and discussing, her progress. She admires the likes of Tim Henman and Andy Murray for the way they cope with the media circus that follows them at Wimbledon, but she knows that the pressure she faces is on another level again. "The only difference is that I have a billion people following them and they don't!" she laughed. "I am from India and I have to face it. These are the pressures I'm going to have for the rest of my life and there's nothing I can do about it.
"This is what my country is like and people in India get very emotional about their heroes."
Coming from a nation, and, indeed, a family, of cricket lovers, Mirza broke the mould from the moment she picked up a tennis racket at the age of six. Her talent was obvious from the start but with little by way of training facilities in her home town of Hyderabad, and with only her father to teach her, she constructed a style for herself that is based more on determination than traditional technique. As in everything else in her young life - she is just 19 - she has taken on tennis and done it her way. Her competitive fire has already brought her one tournament title - her home town event last year - and a current ranking of 38 in the world. Like most teenagers, she is not yet ready to become a leader for her generation but, still, she is regarded as either an icon or "a corrupting influence" in her home country. She is a practising Muslim but some more right-wing clerics in India have already attacked her for appearing in public in her tennis kit, clothing they deem to be highly unsuitable for a young woman. One group of fundamentalists even went as far as to issue a fatwa against her, threatening to stop her from playing unless she followed the Islamic dress code.
Fortunately for Mirza, India is a very large country and a large proportion of the 100 million Muslims living there are just pleased to see her succeed. Admittedly, these days she has bodyguards to protect her when she goes home, but they are there to fend off as many autograph hunters and journalists as religious zealots.
It is a lot for anyone to take on board, much less a teenager, but Mirza is a tough cookie. Sharp as a tack, willing and able to defend herself but also ready to laugh at the absurdities of her life, she does her best to put everything into perspective.
When her doubles partner, Liezel Huber, complained that the Bangalore crowd was too noisy as the duo were on the way to claiming the title this year, Mirza reminded her "you know what, you'd rather have them with you than against you".
"So you just have to take everything optimistically," Mirza said. She takes the same attitude to her career. She announced herself as a contender last year by winning in Hyderabad but this year the opposition has sized her up, worked out her weaknesses - her serve - and kept her quiet. Her best result came in Birmingham last week where she reached the third round. Enlisting the help of Tony Roche, Roger Federer's mentor, to sort out that serve, she is keeping her expectations to a minimum while she reconstructs her game and plans her move towards the elite level.
"There are so many people in India who believe I can be No.1 in the world by the end of the year," she said, "and if I start saying that I am going to top ten, then that will just put extra pressure on me. That's why I want to set myself realistic goals. If I stay in the top 50 this year, then that will be achieving my goal, but if stay in the top 25 then that will also be achieving my goal. But I think my main goal is never to be satisfied."
In theory, her plans for Wimbledon this year should also be low-key. But Mirza is both a fighter and a realist and at 19, she has plenty of time to develop her career. And with so many people following her, she will never be short on support. "Wherever I'm playing, whether it's at home or at Wimbledon, the amount of Indians that live in Wimbledon, it almost feels like home," she said. One billion people can't be wrong.
Tough Wimbledon opener for Sania
Sania Mirza was handed a tough first round outing after being drawn to play seventh seed Elena Dementieva of Russia in the women's singles at the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning on Monday.
The 19-year old Indian, ranked 38th in the world, is in the top half of the draw and in the second quarter which also features 2004 champion Maria Sharapova.
French Open champion Amelie Mauresmo of France is the top seed followed by Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, defending champion Venus Williams, Dementieva and Switzerland's Patty Schnyder in that order for the top eight seedings.
Sania is paired with Holland's Michaela Krajicek in the women's doubles and the duo take on Stephanie Foretz of France and Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti in the first round.
In the men's doubles, Leander Paes and Czech Republic's Martin Damm have been seventh seeded.
The pair clash with Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the opening round.
Mahesh Bhupathi has partnered with Alexander Waske of Germany to be 13th seeded and play Frederic Neimeyer of Canada and American Glenn Weiner in their opening match.
The 19-year old Indian, ranked 38th in the world, is in the top half of the draw and in the second quarter which also features 2004 champion Maria Sharapova.
French Open champion Amelie Mauresmo of France is the top seed followed by Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, defending champion Venus Williams, Dementieva and Switzerland's Patty Schnyder in that order for the top eight seedings.
Sania is paired with Holland's Michaela Krajicek in the women's doubles and the duo take on Stephanie Foretz of France and Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti in the first round.
In the men's doubles, Leander Paes and Czech Republic's Martin Damm have been seventh seeded.
The pair clash with Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the opening round.
Mahesh Bhupathi has partnered with Alexander Waske of Germany to be 13th seeded and play Frederic Neimeyer of Canada and American Glenn Weiner in their opening match.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Sania crashes out of Ordina Open
New Delhi: Sania Mirza's preparations for the Wimbledon received a setback when she lost 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 4-6 to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic in the first round of the 5,000 Ordina Open at 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, on Sunday.
The 19-year old Hyderabadi, who jumped three places to 38 in world rankings after reaching the third round of DFS Classic in Birmingham last week, was at the receiving end of some dubious overrules by the chair umpire, according to information received in New Delhi.
Sania, leading 4-2 in the first set tie-break, served an ace which was belatedly turned into "fault" by the chair and the point awarded to Benesova.
The chair umpire made another overrule against Sania when she hit a clear winner on the far side of the court on set point in the same tie-break.
The Indian bounced back to wrap up the second set before conceding the next set and match.
Meanwhile, Sania will be partnering Holland's Michaella Krajicek in the women's doubles of the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning next week.
The 19-year old Hyderabadi, who jumped three places to 38 in world rankings after reaching the third round of DFS Classic in Birmingham last week, was at the receiving end of some dubious overrules by the chair umpire, according to information received in New Delhi.
Sania, leading 4-2 in the first set tie-break, served an ace which was belatedly turned into "fault" by the chair and the point awarded to Benesova.
The chair umpire made another overrule against Sania when she hit a clear winner on the far side of the court on set point in the same tie-break.
The Indian bounced back to wrap up the second set before conceding the next set and match.
Meanwhile, Sania will be partnering Holland's Michaella Krajicek in the women's doubles of the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning next week.
Sania crashes out of Holland event
New Delhi, June 19. (PTI): Sania Mirza's preparations for the Wimbledon received a setback when she lost 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 4-6 to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic in the first round of the $ 175,000 Ordina Open at 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, on Sunday.
The 19-year old Hyderabadi, who jumped three places to 38 in world rankings after reaching the third round of DFS Classic in Birmingham last week, was at the receiving end of some dubious overrules by the chair umpire, according to information received here today.
Sania, leading 4-2 in the first set tie-break, served an ace, which was belatedly turned into "fault" by the chair and the point awarded to Benesova.
The chair umpire made another overrule against Sania, when she hit a clear winner on the far side of the court on set point in the same tie-break.
The Indian bounced back to wrap up the second set before conceding the next set and match.
Meanwhile, Sania will be partnering Holland's Michaella Krajicek in the women's doubles of the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning next week.
The 19-year old Hyderabadi, who jumped three places to 38 in world rankings after reaching the third round of DFS Classic in Birmingham last week, was at the receiving end of some dubious overrules by the chair umpire, according to information received here today.
Sania, leading 4-2 in the first set tie-break, served an ace, which was belatedly turned into "fault" by the chair and the point awarded to Benesova.
The chair umpire made another overrule against Sania, when she hit a clear winner on the far side of the court on set point in the same tie-break.
The Indian bounced back to wrap up the second set before conceding the next set and match.
Meanwhile, Sania will be partnering Holland's Michaella Krajicek in the women's doubles of the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning next week.
Sania moves up to 38th rank
The advent of the grass court season has witnessed Sania Mirza's resurgence with the Indian teenager jumping three places to 38th in the latest WTA rankings on Monday.
The 19-year-old, who had been afflicted by injuries and slipped to 41 after her low-key performances on clay courts, registered her first third-round appearance of the year at the USD 200,000 DFS Classic in Birmingham last week.
US-based Shikha Uberoi maintained her 165th position while Delhi-based Ankita Bhambri slid 14 places to 363rd and her younger sister Sanaa came down crashing 48 places to 570th. Seasoned Rushmi Chakravarthi dropped 11 spots to 453rd.
There was some good news in the men's section with Rohan Bopanna gaining 15 spots to be placed 252nd and to be the highest ranked Indian on the ATP Tour.
Bopanna came through three rounds of qualifying to earn a first round main draw date with world number one Roger Federer at Halle, Germany, last week.The 26-year-old went down in straight sets but earned the biggest pay cheque of his career of Rs. 3.5 lakh.
Prakash Amritraj is at 285th spot while Karan Rastogi had the next best ranking of 330.
Harsh Mankad slid 28 rungs to be at 394.
In the doubles, Leander Paes (15th) and Mahesh Bhupathi (24th) retained their last week's rankings.
Sania loses in quarters
| Jun 16 2006, 1:03PM GMT |
 Sania Mirza, seen here in February 2006, led by a set and 3-1, and by 5-3 in the final set before somehow contriving to lose 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 |
Birmingham:Sania Mirza crashed out of the DSF Classic International women's tennis tournament by going down to Meilen Tu of USA 6-2 4-6 6-7 (3-7) in the third round here today. Sania, ranked No 40 in the world, frittered away the advantage of being one set up and later lost steam when it mattered the most to end up as a loser in a tough battle which lasted for over two hours at the Edgbaston Priory Club. In the decider, Sania had an upper hand twice as she was serving while leading 5-4 and 6-5. But each time she could not manage to hold her serve and allowed the match to go into the tie-break. The American held her nerve in the tie-break and outplayed Sania 7-3 to advance to the quarterfinal where she will meet Marion Bartoli of France. |
Pressure increasing for Sania
| SANIA Mirza has admitted the pressure on her is "growing by the day" as the tennis player adapts to life as India`s first female sports star. Ever since she won the junior girls title at Wimbledon in 2003, an achievement which saw her favourite cricketer and India icon Sachin Tendulkar gift her a sportscar, Mirza`s career has been on an upward path. Last year she became the first Indian woman to break into the world`s top 50, the first to win a tournament and to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam event. As her tennis profile rose the Muslim teenager also found herself having to cope with attacks from some clergy unhappy with the outfits, unexceptional compared to those say of Serena Williams, she was wearing on court. And Mirza, who won her first-round match at the DFS Classic WTA grasscourt event in Birmingham on Tuesday, with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Ukraine`s Alona Bondarenko, admitted life in the spotlight was far from an easy ride. "After what happened last year there`s a lot of pressure on me, with people expecting me to do a lot better than I did," she said. "The pressure is growing by the day. Every match, whether I win or lose, people expect me to do better than I ever can. "That is something that as an athlete you go through day in and day out, although my upbringing is such I feel I can ignore it. "It is something you need to learn to block out. It is hard to do all the time because there are occasions when you feel pressure. That is when family helps." |
Sania reaches DFS Classic quarters
 Sania Mirza, seen here in February 2006, reached the third round of a WTA Tour event for the first time in eight months |
BIRMINGHAM (England): Sania Mirza reached the third round of a WTA Tour event for the first time in eight months on Wednesday, overcoming fitness worries, rain-sodden conditions, and Shenay Perry in three sets at the DFS Classic. The Indian star, who has been struggling with back problems this year, was in decent enough shape against the world number 72 from the United States to underline her considerable potential on grass with a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 victory. The world number 41 from Hyderabad delivered uninhibited flat hitting which causes the ball to stay down lower on this surface, making it a potent threat, and she was unafraid to take risks on the big points. But Mirza did not consolidate a lead of a set and a service break, and eventually making hard work of a contest which was extended by an aggravating 80-minute rain delay soon after she had let slip her second set advantage. This may have been partly caused by cumulative pressure from a moderate sequence of results and possibly the realisation that the draw, without the third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova in her section, is opening up invitingly. "After last year there has been a lot of pressure on me. And of course people expect me to do a lot better than I did last year," said Mirza. "I am going to take it one at a time and not worry about Wimbledon, or even next week. I only want to worry about tomorrow. In conditions which made serve more important, Mirza secured the only break of the first set at the psychologically crucial moment in the eleventh game, and when she broke to lead 2-1 and 3-1 in the second set, seemed well on her way. But as in her opening win against Alona Bondarenko, she seemed to allow her mind to waver a little, while Perry developed more rhythm with an intelligent game in which she mixed sliced drives skillfully in with her routine topspin, and sometimes made ambushing net attacks. Even then Perry seemed to be heading for defeat for she followed her break to 3-3 by double-faulting to go 3-4 and hurled down her racket and broke it. She escaped a code violation warning for that, and also escaped with the set on a tiebreak after Mirza overhit a backhand to miss her point for 5-3. But Mirza played more steadily throughout the third set, breaking to lead 4-2 and then holding her advantage until the end. "The court was a bit different from that in my opening round," she said. "The rain made the conditions heavier and harder to keep your focus. "I tried to finish it too early in the second set -- I was a little bit impatient. But I knew I had to hang on to my service games because she served so well, and after this I did that." If the 14th-seeded Indian can now beat another American, the qualifier Meilen Tu, she will earn herself a place in the quarterfinals. |
Sania declares open tennis school in Edgbaston
| Birmingham: Notwithstanding her recent poor shows, Sania Mirza's popularity transcends boundaries and the teenager from Hyderabad was the cynosure of all eyes when she declared open a tennis school here. Currently here to participate in the WTA Tier III DFS Classic, Sania took time off her preparation to open a brand new tennis facility at Harborne Hill School in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Immensely popular here, the World No. 41 shared her experience with the students of Harborne Hill and Chadvale, a local junior school. |
Mirza relives happy days with grass win
 Sania Mirza, seen here in March 2006, relived the best day of her career so far when she overcame Alona Bondarenko |
BIRMINGHAM, England- Sania Mirza relived the best day of her career so far when she overcame Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the second round of the DFS Classic. Mirza beat the 21-year-old Ukrainian in the final of her home city tournament in Hyderabad last year to become the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour title. This time Mirza again won in three sets, though there were moments, particularly when she slipped to a 1-3 deficit in the final set, when it seemed she was going to fall short. But she regained focus and counter-attacked boldly for a satisfactory start to her grass-court buildup to "I have been practising on the grass for the last three days, so I am getting used to it. "After what happened last season (a great match with Kuznetsova at Wimbledon) I think everyone back home will be looking forward to this season," added the 19-year-old 14th seed. Mirza might have won more easily. She played an excellent first set, striking the ball hard. But she wasted a great chance to take Bondarenko's opening service game in the second set, hitting a service return into the net from a second delivery at 30-40. She then slipped awkwardly at 30-30 on her own serve two games later, losing the point and performing three sets of leg exercises before resuming. At the break point, Bondarenko unleashed a winning volley, taking her to 3-1 and visibly raising her confidence. Bondarenko's improved the rhythm of her ground strokes, clinging to her advantage throughout the second set and advancing to 3-1 in the final set, despite a heavy fall. But then the Indian, betraying signs of irritation and bouncing her racket in frustration, launched an all-out attack to win the last five games and the match. Mirza faces American Shenay Perry, the world number 92, for a shot at a quarter-final place in a section without 3rd seed Daniela Hantuchova, who withdrew with a wrist injury on Monday. |
Sania beats Bondarenko
 Sania Mirza hits a backhand during her match against Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko |
Birmingham: Sania Mirza, seeded 14th, was stretched to three sets by Alona Bondarenko before prevailing 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the $ 200,000 DFS Classic here on Tuesday. Brilliant in patches, the Hyderabad girl looked determined to prove a point on the grass court. Sania broke her rival three times to race away with the first set 6-2. However, Sania kept her nerve in the decider to progress to the second round. In the Stella Artois tournament in London, fifth-seeded James Blake defeated Justin Gimelstob 7-5, 6-1 in an all-American, second-round match. On Monday, Briton Tim Henman spoiled the comeback scenario for Andre Agassi as he defeated the tennis icon 6-4, 6-4 in the first round. |
Sania at ease with pressure of expectations
It's not easy being Sania Mirza with over a billion people watching every move she makes but the Hyderabadi teenager does not complain and says she has learnt to live with it.
Currently playing in the DFS Classic at Birmingham as a build-up for the Wimbledon, Sania said she was used to the pressure and in fact that helped her understand Brit Tim Henman's plight, who has been under similar pressure for the past 15 years.
''It's very hard when every time you step on court the whole country has its eyes on you,'' Sania said told Online from London.
''The amount of respect I have for Tim Henman is huge because the amount of pressure he has been under every year for the last 15 years is amazing. I really feel for him,'' she added.
Sania, who had a meteoric rise last year jumping from world number 206 to 31 by the end of the year, said her success last year has made her more mature for a 19-year-old even though it probably cost her a normal teenager's life.
''People do expect a lot, probably more than I can do. They think that because I moved up from 180 to 30 in the world, that that's how (quickly) I'm going to move up from 30 to No 10, and it's not like that.
However, this year has not been as good for Sania so far and she has failed to go beyond the second round of any singles competition -- the most recent being the first round exit from French Open. But the WTA Newcomer of the Year is hoping to make amends on her return to grass court.
''I'm really looking forward to getting back on the grass,'' she said adding, ''It suits my game.''
Recalling her most memorable moments on court, Sania said the second round loss to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in last year's Wimbledon was one of the high points of her career.
''It was very emotional because playing on Centre Court is something every tennis player dreams of doing,'' she said recalling the loss in three sets.
''I couldn't believe it when I saw the order of play the night before. I played one of the best matches of my life there. It didn't go my way but it was very, very memorable,'' she added.
Currently playing in the DFS Classic at Birmingham as a build-up for the Wimbledon, Sania said she was used to the pressure and in fact that helped her understand Brit Tim Henman's plight, who has been under similar pressure for the past 15 years.
''It's very hard when every time you step on court the whole country has its eyes on you,'' Sania said told Online from London.
''The amount of respect I have for Tim Henman is huge because the amount of pressure he has been under every year for the last 15 years is amazing. I really feel for him,'' she added.
Sania, who had a meteoric rise last year jumping from world number 206 to 31 by the end of the year, said her success last year has made her more mature for a 19-year-old even though it probably cost her a normal teenager's life.
''People do expect a lot, probably more than I can do. They think that because I moved up from 180 to 30 in the world, that that's how (quickly) I'm going to move up from 30 to No 10, and it's not like that.
However, this year has not been as good for Sania so far and she has failed to go beyond the second round of any singles competition -- the most recent being the first round exit from French Open. But the WTA Newcomer of the Year is hoping to make amends on her return to grass court.
''I'm really looking forward to getting back on the grass,'' she said adding, ''It suits my game.''
Recalling her most memorable moments on court, Sania said the second round loss to Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in last year's Wimbledon was one of the high points of her career.
''It was very emotional because playing on Centre Court is something every tennis player dreams of doing,'' she said recalling the loss in three sets.
''I couldn't believe it when I saw the order of play the night before. I played one of the best matches of my life there. It didn't go my way but it was very, very memorable,'' she added.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Sania, Bhupathi move into second round
PARIS : Sania Mirza made light of her first round exit in the singles advancing to the second round of women’s doubles while Mahesh Bhupathi kept himself on track to win his third French Open Grand Slam title by steering clear through the first round of men’s doubles event here yesterday. The 19-year-old Indian combined with Slovakia’s Janette Husarova for a facile 6-1 6-3 against Spaniard Conchita Martinez and Castalina Castano of Columbia. The duo will next play third seeds Anna-Lena Groanfield of Germany and Meghanshaugnessy of USA. Bhupathi and Xavier Malisse of Belarus registered an easy 6-2 6-2 victory over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg and Christophe Rochus of Belarus to move into the second round of the clay court event. Leander Paes and Martin Damm of Czech Republic, who are seeded seventh, have been pitted against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in their opening encounter. |
Sania, Husarova enter 2nd round
Putting behind the disappointment of her singles loss, Sania Mirza and Slovak Janette Husarova today cruised into the second round of doubles competition with a 6-1, 6-3 win over the Spanish-Columbian pair of Conchita Martinez and Catalina Castano.
Sania, who crashed out of the singles competition yesterday following her first round loss to Russian Anastasia Myskina, and Husarova dominated the match from the start and did not give any breathing space to their opponents.
The Indo-Slovak pair raced away with the first set 6-1, as Martinez and Castano struggled to match them. The second set followed almost the same pattern except that the Spanish-Columbian pair put up some degree of resistence and managed to win three games, but Sania and Husarova had taken control of the situtation by then and saw off the little challenge thrown by their rivals to take the set 6-3 and pocket the match.
Sania and Husarova will now take on the winners of the match between third seed German-US pair of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Meghann Shaughnessy and Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands)/ Agnes Szavay (Hungary).
Despite struggling in the singles circuit, Sania has managed good results in doubles. She teamed up with Australian Alicia Molik to reach the finals of last week's Istanbul Open.
Sania, who crashed out of the singles competition yesterday following her first round loss to Russian Anastasia Myskina, and Husarova dominated the match from the start and did not give any breathing space to their opponents.
The Indo-Slovak pair raced away with the first set 6-1, as Martinez and Castano struggled to match them. The second set followed almost the same pattern except that the Spanish-Columbian pair put up some degree of resistence and managed to win three games, but Sania and Husarova had taken control of the situtation by then and saw off the little challenge thrown by their rivals to take the set 6-3 and pocket the match.
Sania and Husarova will now take on the winners of the match between third seed German-US pair of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Meghann Shaughnessy and Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands)/ Agnes Szavay (Hungary).
Despite struggling in the singles circuit, Sania has managed good results in doubles. She teamed up with Australian Alicia Molik to reach the finals of last week's Istanbul Open.
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