Sania halted by Francesca

Sania Mirza suffered her fourth successive defeat at the hands of Italian Francesca Schiavone in a straight sets mauling to crash out of the ASB Classic WTA tournament Wednesday.

The Indian lost 0-6, 3-6 to the fourth seed opponent in the second round of the $220,000 hard court event for a disappointing start to the season.

The world No.17 proved too tough for Sania as she struggled to get a foot hold in the match. Sania has never won against Schiavone.

Earlier, the Hyderabad girl also crashed out of the doubles after losing her first round along with Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual.

The second seeds suffered a shock 1-6, 6-7(6-8) defeat at the hands of wild card entrants Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium and Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia.

Israeli Shahar Peer had an eventful day as protestors demonstrating her country’s treatment of Palestinians interrupted her second round match against Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova, which she won 6-1, 6-0 to advance to the quarter finals.

Peer was the subject of similar protests outside the Auckland Tennis Centre last year and on Tuesday.

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Sania Mirza in action

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Sania Mirza returns to Francesca Schiavone of Italy during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Schiavone won 6-2, 6-1.

Francesca Schiavone of Italy celebrates her win

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Francesca Schiavone of Italy celebrates her 6-2, 6-1 win over Sania Mirza of India during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka, western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. Schiavone will face Samantha Stosur of Australia in Sunday's final match

Sania Mirza reacts after missing a shot

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Sania Mirza reacts after missing a shot against Francesca Schiavone of Italy during their semi-final match at the Japan Women's Open Tennis in Osaka,western Japan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.Schiavone won 6-2,6-1

Sania Mirza tastes another defeat

Sania Mirza and her Italian partner Francesca Schiavone crashed out of the doubles event of the $2 million Cincinnati Open following a straight set defeat against top seeds Cara Black and Lizel Huber.

The unseeded Indo-Italian pair lost 4-6, 3-6 to the Zimbabwean-American combination in one hour and 14 minutes in the second round of the WTA event.

Meanwhile, playing her second competitive match in more than two years, Kim Clijsters reached the third round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Open with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Patty Schnyder on Wednesday.

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