Sania-Mattek advances in Pacific Open

India’s ace women tennis player Sania Mirza combined well with her American partner Bethanie Mattek to advance into the second round of the doubles event, after registerning a convincing6-3, 6-2 win over Poland’s Klaudia Jans and Gabriela Navratilova of Czech Republic, at the $2,100,000 Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells on Wednesday.

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The seventh seeded Indo-American pair faced no difficulty in overpowering their Pol-Czech opponents Klaudia Jans and Gabriela Navratilova.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabadi lass Sania, who is seeded 21 in the singles event, has been given a first-round bye. Sania now faces Ukranian Olga Savchuk in the second round.

Olga rallied her way to move into the second round with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) scoreline as she outscored the stiff challenge put up by Russian Yaroslava Shvedova.

Sania has also taken the services of renowned coach Sven Groeneveld, who also coaches world No. 2 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Ivanovic has been given the top-billing in the women’s singles draw of the event.

In the other matches of the day, qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France outclassed American Lilia Osterloh 6-1, 6-2 to set up a date with fifth seed Maria Sharapova. The 2006 Indian Wells winner Sharapova, who also claimed her third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year, had got a bye into the second round.

Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova defeated Meilen Tu of the United States 6-4, 6-2 to sail into the second round where she meets compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova.

First Round Results:

Singles: Ekaterina Makarova bt Meilen Tu 6-4, 6-2; Klara Zakopalova bt Maria Emila Salerni 6-4, 6-4; Zheng Jie bt Emilie Loit 6-0, 6-1; Tsvetana Pironkova bt Marta Domachowska 6-4, 6-2; Ashley Harkleroad bt Tatiana Perebiynis 6-2, 6-0; Akgul Amanmuradova bt Anastasia Rodionova 6-4, 6-3; Edina Gallovits bt Yvonne Meusburger 6-4, 2-6, 6-1; Mariya Koryttseva bt Nathalie Dechy 6-1, 6-4; Yan Zi bt Urszula Radwanska 2-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Angela Haynes bt Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2; Peng Shuai bt Tatjana Malek 6-4, 6-3; Olga Savchuk bt Yaroslava Shvedova 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4); Jill Craybas bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-6(2), 6-4; Sofia Arvidsson bt Renata Voracova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Caroline Wozniacki bt Melinda Czink 6-2, 7-6(4).

Doubles: Bethanie Mattek & Sania Mirza bt Klaudia Jans & Gabriela Navratilova 6-3, 6-2.