Sania Mirza cruised into the second round of the doubles

PARIS: Putting behind the disappointment of her singles loss, Sania Mirza and Slovak Janette Husarova on Wednesday cruised into the second round of the doubles competition with a 6-1 6-3 win over the Spanish-Columbian pair of Conchita Martinez and Catalina Castano.

Sania, who crashed out of the singles competition on Tuesday following her first round loss to Russian Anastasia Myskina, and Husarova dominated the match from the start and did not give any breathing space to their opponents.

The Indo-Slovak pair raced away with the first set 6-1 as Martinez and Castano struggled to match them. The second set followed almost the same pattern except that the Spanish-Columbian pair put up some degree of resistence and managed to win three games but Sania and Husarova had taken control of the situtation by then and saw off the minor challenge thrown by their rivals to take the set 6-3 and pocket the match.

Sania and Husarova will now take on the winners of the match between third seed German-US pair of Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Meghann Shaughnessy and Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands)/Agnes Szavay (Hungary).

Despite struggling in the singles circuit, Sania has managed good results in doubles. She teamed up with Australian Alicia Molik to reach the finals of last week's Istanbul Open.

Sania Mirza bows down to Anastasia Myskina

It's pretty obvious that Sania Mirza isn't fast or technically sound enough to win clay court matches against the elite player. That's what she admits, and what Anastasia Myskina said after the '04 Roland Garros champ stung her 6-4, 6-1.

Mirza was in the first set but, after that, Myskina ran her ragged. So much for Saniamania-infecting Paris.

"Clay's not her surface, that's for sure," Myskina said. "I don't think she likes to play here because it's long rallies and she likes to hit the ball so hard. She doesn't have any patience at all here. ... She plays the same game . You gets used to her game and you can read her game, especially on clay. You just have to do something and if you are able to do it, it's pretty easy."

India's Mirza had no upbringing on the surface and said she's a long way from getting used to the dirt. She says that she needs to learn to hit eight to 10 hard balls in a row instead of the two to three that might be effective on grass. She also admits that foot speed is not her strength. All that adds up to is a 19-year-old who has a long, long way to go before she becomes a Top-20 player. And, considering that she just came back after a month off due back, elbow and wrist injuries, she also might be hard pressed to do anything at all this year beyond defending her Top 50 status.

"It's hard," she said. "That's the disadvantages of growing up in a country where you don't the developed training yet. I'm finding out now about muscles that I didn't think I had. I'm working a lot harder off court to prevent these injures."

As always, Sania wasn't ready to lower expectations of herself. But she does believe that she can become a top player.

"When I was growing up, a lot of people said my family and I were wasting time spending so much time in tennis," she said. "They were wrong. I've always believed in myself and I still believe I can get there or I wouldn't be here."

At this point, Sania has nowhere near the look of a Top-10 player. Sure, she has huge forehand, a decent backhand and a solid return, but players have figured out that if you can handle rallies beyond three balls. Her defense is shabby and she can' hit winners on the dead run. Unless you are the size of Lindsay Davenport and have her textbook, accurate strokes, a player cannot push far up the ladder unless she learns how to grind out some points. That's Sania's challenge.

Myskina's challenge is getting her confidence back and is still not quite there after her well-documented, harrowing first half of 2005, when he mother was seriously ill and she lost all of her on-court focus. She's still a decent Top-15 player, but has not shown her former Top-5 level.
She believes she getting close now saying her confidence is around a '7."

Source: http://www.tennisreporters.net/blog_rg_053006.html

Sania Mirza Slips to 40 in Singles

New Delhi: Sania Mirza had contrasting luck in the WTA Tour singles and doubles rankings released on Monday.

The 19-year-old Indian slipped down two places to 40 in the singles but jumped two positions to 37 in the doubles.

The climbdown in singles rankings comes despite a first round win at Istanbul where she also reached the doubles final with Australian Alicia Molik.

The Hyderabadi lass, who returned to action after a three-week break last week, is set to play former champion and world No 12 Anatasia Myskina in the first round of the French Open Grand Slam now underway in Paris.

She bowed out of the US $200,000 event in Istanbul, Turkey in the singles second round after a 6-4, 1-6, 2-6 loss to Michaella Krajicek of The Netherlands. But she made it to the doubles finals of the event along with Alicia Molik of Australia.

Mirza upset at Istanbul Cup

India's Sania Mirza kept alive her streak of losing in her first or second match in nine events thus far in 2006, Wednesday at Istanbul failing to close out a set lead in falling to Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The No. 5-seeded Mirza was the lone seeded casualty on the day outside of winners (2) Anna-Lena Groenefeld (d. Gagliardi), (4) Shahar Peer (d. (Q) Radwasnka, bagel in the second), (6) Catalina Castano (d. (Q) Paszek from a set down), and (7) Mara Santangelo (d. Cibulkova).

Also into the quarterfinals were Belarus' Anastasiya Yakimova (d. Shaughnessy 6-0 in the third) and Croat Karolina Sprem (d. Washington).

Players grabbing an early flight out of Istanbul were given a scare Wednesday when a huge fire engulfed the cargo section of Ataturk International Airport, causing hundreds of panicked people to flee according to television reports.

Thousands were evacuated from nearby terminals as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.

On court Thursday in Istanbul are Santangelo vs. Peer, Yakimova vs. Krajicek, Sprem vs. Groenefeld, and Myskina vs. Castano.

Source: http://www.tennis-x.com/story/2006-05-25/h.php

Sania Mirza Slips to 38th in Latest WTA Rankings

New Delhi, May 22: Sania Mirza slipped three rungs to 38th ahead of her return to action in the Istanbul Open, while comeback queen Martina Hingis marched into the top-20 at 14th in the latest WTA rankings issued today.

Sania, who is seeded fifth in the Isatanbul Open, has 515.50 ranking points and remains the highest placed Indian in the list.

The Indian ace will open her campaign in Istanbul in the tier-III event against wild card entrant and local favourite Ipek Senoglu -- ranked way below at 889th in the WTA list, which continues to be headed by French Amelie Mauresmo (3272).

Meanwhile, Hingis, who quit playing owing to nagging foot and ankle injuries in 2002, has made a remarkable upward climb since coming back last year. The Swiss star -- ranked 9,999 last year -- won the Italian Open beating Dinara Safina yesterday and has now jumped to the 14th spot with 1160 ranking points ahead of the French Open next week.

Among other Indians in the list, the US-based Shikha Uberoi (155) remained static at 179 followed by Ankita Bhambri (56.25), who dropped 11 places, at 343.

Sister Sanaa (30.25) slipped 24 places to 475th and the only notable improvement was made by veteran Rushmi Chakravarthi (33.75), who improved six places to 440th.

The top 10 remain unchanged with Belgian Kim Clijsters (3048) at the second spot. Russians Nadia Petrova (2620) and Maria Sharapova (2543) are third and fourth respectively.

Source: http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=21703&n_tit=Sania+Mirza+Slips+to+38th+in+Latest+WTA+Rankings

Sania Mirza Climbed Two Places in WTA Rankings

Resting Sania Mirza's rankings continued to soar on the WTA charts as she climbed two places to be on 35th in the latest ratings announced on Monday.

The Indian tennis sensation, who is nursing multiple injuries, has 516.75 points.

After serving her country in the recent Fed Cup at Seoul despite her injuries, Sania will resume action just before the French Open championship to tune up for the clay court Grand Slam next month.

However, India's star Fed Cupper Shikha Uberoi slipped one place to 179 and the US-based player has 155 ranking points.

Delhi's Ankita Bhambri moved three places to 332, while another Fed Cup player Isha Lakhani was static at 363.

Among the men, Leander Paes lost five places to be on 14th while Mahesh Bhupathi maintained his 28th position in the doubles rankings.

In the top 10 list, Russian Nadia Petrova, who beat Justine Henin-Hardenne to clinch the German Open yesterday, overtook glamorous compatriot Maria Sharapova at number three.

Deutsche Bank signs up Gavaskar, Sania Mirza as brand ambassadors

New Delhi: Deutsche Bank has signed up cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar as its new brand ambassador and tennis star Sania Mirza as product ambassador to promote its recently launched retail banking products and services in India.

Officials said the bank wanted to project stability and maturity through Gavaskar and youthful vigour through Mirza.

Mirza, ranked 37, is the first Indian woman to claim a WTA tour singles title.

"It gives me more pleasure to be their brand ambassador. And I think sharing a stage with Gavaskar is a great honour. I am looking forward to work with him in making the bank better," Mirza said.

"As an opening batsman, I recognise the value of having a solid partner and therefore I am delighted to partner such a respected global brand like Deutsche Bank," Gavaskar added.

Gavaskar held the world record of 34 centuries before compatriot Sachin Tendulkar broke it.

The bank recently forayed into the retail segment and also announced plans to beef up its asset management business in India by bringing in its retail mutual fund brand DWS Investments, last week.
Source: http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=58075

Sania Mirza rises to 37th in WTA rankings

Sania Mirza, has moved two places up in the latest WTA Tour rankings. With this Sania’s ranking has improved for the second successive week inspite of her taking a break from the circuit to recuperate from injuries. Sania also improved her career best doubles ranking to climb one spot to 37.

Sania Mirza improved her singles ranking at the expense of Mara Santangelo, who lost three places to settle for 38th position. Sania has 516.75 points.

Sania Mirza last played in the Federation Cup where India lost to Australia in the finals of the Fed Cup Asia-Oceania zonal qualifying.

Sania had only some days back said, “Staying in top-40 is tough enough. When you are at that level, you play the top girls day in and day out.” Seems like that the girl is trying hard to improve.

Sania will do well in Wimbledon: Mahesh Bhupathi

Kolkata, May 3: Indian ace Mahesh Bhupathi is confident that Sania Mirza would be able to leave behind her recent lacklustre showing and make a forceful comeback in the Wimbledon Championship beginning next month.

"She is trying hard and hopefully we will see her come up with a good result in the Wimbledon," Bhupathi said.

On Sania slipping to the 39th spot in the rankings, Bhupathi said "this can happen to any player. Ups and downs do come in a player's career." Sania, who had climbed up to the 34th spot in the world list, moved down to 40th before improving one position in the latest ranking chart.

Plagued by various injuries, Sania is now taking a three-week break from the court to give herself much-needed rest.

Bhupathi did not agree that India fared poorly in their Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone group 1 play-off tie against Pakistan before managing to win 3-2.

"We always knew that it will be tough. Pakistan's number one player Aisam ul-Haq Qureshi is very good on the grass court. We knew that he will give us a run for the money in the two singles matches," he said.

"What is important is that we won. We badly needed to win to stay in group 1 to be in a position to take a shot at the world group," said Bhupathi, now ranked 22nd in doubles.

Asked whether India's efforts to return to the world group were faltrering due to the inability of the second rung players, the lanky tennis star avoided a direct reply.

"There is lot of talent now. Prakash Amritraj, Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Neducheziyan are good. But they have to work hard to break into the top in men's circuit," he said.

Sania moves up to No. 39

New Delhi: Despite taking time off the circuit to attend to her various injuries, Sania Mirza has climbed one place to No. 39 in the latest WTA Tour rankings.

The Hyderabadi girl, who represented India in the recent Federation Cup Zonal qualifiers in South Korea, is taking a three-week break to give her body a much-needed rest.

She has 516.75 points and despite not taking the court, moved up at the expense of American Jill Craybas moved down to 40.

On the doubles front, too, Sania moved one place to No. 38. Shikha Uberoi moved up one in the singles ranking to No. 182, while Ankita Bhambri and Isha Lakhani are at 332 and 366, respectively.

Shikha is 159 in doubles, with Ankita at 347th.

Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo leads the rankings ahead of Belgian Kim Clijsters and Maria Sharapova of Russia.

Mahesh Bhupathi, who made it to the semi-finals of the ATP event in Barcelona partnering Leos Friedl of the Czech Republic, improved a notch to No. 22.

Leander Paes, who had an early exit in Barcelona with Czech Republic’s Martin Damm, held on to the 10th spot. (Agencies)