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BIRMINGHAM (England), June 14: 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 Birmingham Classic on Tuesday.
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 Wimbledon.
“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.”
Mirza faces American Shenay Perry, the world No 92, for a shot at a quarter-final place in a section without third seed Daniela Hantuchova, who withdrew with a wrist injury on Monday.
On a rain-affected day only three other matches were completed. American Bethanie Mattek beat Julia Schruff of Germany 6-4, 6-7, 6-1; China's Peng Shuai defeated Australian Nicole Pratt 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, while Slovakia's Jarmila Gajdosova overcame another Chinese player in Yuan Meng 6-3, 6-4.
Two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova endured a frustrating day. The 2004 Wimbledon singles winner never got on court to start a second round match, the 19-year-old Russian's first of this year's tournament, against American qualifier Ahsha Rolle.
Tuesday’s results:
First round: 14-Sania Mirza (India) beat Alona Bondarenko (Ukraine) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Shuai Peng (China) beat Nicole Pratt (Australia) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4; Jarmila Gajdosova (Slovakia) beat Meng Yuan (China) 6-3, 6-4; Bethanie Mattek (US) beat Julia Schruff (Germany) 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1.
BLAKE BEATS RAIN
LONDON: Fifth seed James Blake was one of only six players who beat the rain to complete their matches on a frustrating day at the Stella Artois Championships on Tuesday.
Blake was the first and only man to race into the third round after he swatted aside fellow American Justin Gimelstob 7-5, 6-1.
Coming into the tournament a career-high seventh in the world, the American had the upper hand throughout his contest and captured the first set when Gimelstob was beaten by a delectable lob.
After breaking for a 3-1 lead in the second, Blake blazed through to chalk up his third win in four meetings against Gimelstob as clouds gathered over Queen's club.
British hope Andy Murray was poised to level his match against unheralded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic at one set all when persistent showers brought a premature end to the day's play. Tipsarevic leads 7-6 2-5.
Champion Andy Roddick did not even manage to get out of the locker room. He will have to wait another 24 hours before he can begin his quest for an unprecedented fourth successive Queen's crown against Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic.
Tuesday’s results:
Second round: 5-James Blake (US) beat Justin Gimelstob (US) 7-5, 6-1.
First round: 16-Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) beat Dick Norman (Belgium) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5); 9-Robby Ginepri (US) beat Paul Goldstein (US) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1; Nicolas Mahut (France) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 6-4, 6-1; 15-Dmitry Tursunov (Russia) beat Alex Bogdanovic (Britain) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4; Mardy Fish (US) beat Jamie Baker (Britain) 6-1, 6-3;Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia & Montenegro) leads Andy Murray (Britain) 7-6 (7-3), 2-5.
HALLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS:
First round: 5-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 6-4, 6-3; 6-Tommy Haas (Germany) beat Gilles Simon (France) 6-4, 7-5 Florian Mayer (Germany) beat Bjoern Phau (Germany) 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (10-8); Marco Chiudinelli (Switzerland) beat Christophe Rochus (Belgium) 6-3, 6-4; Marat Safin (Russia) beat Florent Serra (France) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3; Fabrice Santoro (France) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2; Richard Gasquet (France) beat George Bastl (Switzerland) 6-2, 6-3.—Agencies
