News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » Sania loses to Dementieva

Sania loses to Dementieva

Last updated on: March 14, 2006 20:01 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Sania Mirza crashed out of the Pacific Life Open on Monday, losing her singles and doubles matches.

The Indian ace lost 7-5, 4-6, 4-6 to fourth seeded Elena Dementieva in the third round of the singles, and then, pairing with Ai Sugiyama of Japan, lost 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 to the second seeded pair of Zimbabwean Cara Black and Australian Rennae Stubbs in the doubles.

Against Dementieva, Sania started well in the two-hour contest, but the Russian came back strongly after losing the first set to clinch the match.

The Indian broke her higher-ranked opponent thrice in the first set to win it 7-5, but her tendency to let the momentum slip again proved her undoing as the Russian held on in the next two sets to win the match.

Sania was broken four times in the second set, which she lost 4-6.

Dementieva proved to be too good in the decider too, and despite committing six double faults, won the set 6-4.

German seventh seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld rallied after losing the first set to beat Israel's Anna Smashnova 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 to also reach round four, while 17th-seeded Argentine Gisela Dulko stopped French 12th seed Tatiana Golovin 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 to get to the same stage.

Sania, who slipped to 45 in world rankings last week, had beaten qualifier Bethanie Mattek 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 to advance to the third round of the tier I tournament after being granted a bye in the first.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024