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 Related Stories Sania loses in quarters Pressure increasing for Sania Sania reaches DFS Classic quarters Sania declares open tennis school in Edgbaston Mirza relives happy days with grass win Sania beats Bondarenko More Sania Mirza News >> "I lost a bit of concentration and she came up with some good shots," admitted Mirza. "I am happy just to have won it. "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.