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Mirza fights back to advance in Pattaya
Source: Agencies |
February 11, 2009, Wednesday
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SANIA Mirza of India rallied from a break down in both sets yesterday to oust Nicha Lertpitaksinchai of Thailand 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the first round of the Pattaya Open.
Mirza trailed 3-5 in both sets against the 945th-ranked Nicha.
"She didn't play like she is 945. She hit like she is in the top 50," Mirza said. "It's always difficult to play with someone you don't know in the first round. But I'm happy to raise my level and pulled through."
Top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia also advanced, beating Andreja Klepac of Slovenia 6-4, 6-3, while second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark defeated Chan Yung-jan of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-0.
Late on Monday, fifth-seeded Peng Shuai of China reached the second round when Mara Santangelo of Italy retired with an ankle injury despite leading.
Peng won 3-6, 5-2 after Santangelo injured her ankle while attempting to hit a backhand in the second set.
"I started a bit nervous and tight and got broken one game which cost me the first set," Peng said. "In the second set, I was a bit more relaxed after I talked to my coach."
In Paris, another Chinese Li Na advanced to the second round of the Open GDF Suez on Monday by beating last year's finalist Agnes Szavay of Hungary 7-6 (6), 6-2.
In a back-and-forth first set, Li raced out to a 3-0 lead before Szavay bounced back to win the next five games. However, Szavay double faulted on two set points at 5-4, and then added three more double faults to give Li a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker. The Hungarian then saved four set points before Li converted her fifth with a forehand winner.
Li dominated the second set, breaking Szavay twice before converting her third match point.
It was Li's first match of the season after undergoing surgery on her right knee. "It was tough for me," She said.
"My last tournament was Luxembourg last year. I haven't played a match for three months. I was a little bit nervous and excited.
"There was a lot of fighting in my mind. I didn't know what I could do."
Mirza trailed 3-5 in both sets against the 945th-ranked Nicha.
"She didn't play like she is 945. She hit like she is in the top 50," Mirza said. "It's always difficult to play with someone you don't know in the first round. But I'm happy to raise my level and pulled through."
Top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia also advanced, beating Andreja Klepac of Slovenia 6-4, 6-3, while second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark defeated Chan Yung-jan of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-0.
Late on Monday, fifth-seeded Peng Shuai of China reached the second round when Mara Santangelo of Italy retired with an ankle injury despite leading.
Peng won 3-6, 5-2 after Santangelo injured her ankle while attempting to hit a backhand in the second set.
"I started a bit nervous and tight and got broken one game which cost me the first set," Peng said. "In the second set, I was a bit more relaxed after I talked to my coach."
In Paris, another Chinese Li Na advanced to the second round of the Open GDF Suez on Monday by beating last year's finalist Agnes Szavay of Hungary 7-6 (6), 6-2.
In a back-and-forth first set, Li raced out to a 3-0 lead before Szavay bounced back to win the next five games. However, Szavay double faulted on two set points at 5-4, and then added three more double faults to give Li a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker. The Hungarian then saved four set points before Li converted her fifth with a forehand winner.
Li dominated the second set, breaking Szavay twice before converting her third match point.
It was Li's first match of the season after undergoing surgery on her right knee. "It was tough for me," She said.
"My last tournament was Luxembourg last year. I haven't played a match for three months. I was a little bit nervous and excited.
"There was a lot of fighting in my mind. I didn't know what I could do."
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