Mirza opens with a win, Golovin injured
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
LOS ANGELES, Aug 7 (AFP): India's Sania Mirza celebrated her move into the top 30 in the world rankings on Monday with a first-round triumph over Alexsandra Wozniak in the 600,000-dollar hardcourt tournament here.
Mirza, 20, moved up a notch to No. 30 in the rankings released Monday, after reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament in San Diego last week. She completed the opening day of play at the Home Depot Centre with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Canadian qualifier Wozniak.
Austrian Sybille Bammer, who broke into the top 20 in the rankings on Monday at No. 20, also advanced, defeating American Laura Granville 6-4, 6-2.
France's Tatiana Golovin, however, saw her campaign come to a premature halt as she retired from her match against Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn after dropping the first set 7-5 with a right hamstring strain.
It was another blow for the 19-year-old, who battled an ankle injury earlier this year.
"I probably shouldn't have even gone on the court," said Golovin, adding that she had actually started feeling discomfort during last week's tournament in San Diego. "I couldn't put any weight on it.
"When I went to hit before my match, after 10 or 15 minutes it started to get sore again and never went away. I shouldn't even have started," the 11th seed said.
The top eight seeds, led by world No. 2 Maria Sharapova, have first-round byes.
Sharapova will be seeking her second title in as many weeks, having launched her preparation for her US Open title defence with a victory at San Diego.
The Russian reached the semi-finals here last year, falling to compatriot and eventual champion Elena Dementieva.
Dementieva returns to defend the title she won with a victory in the final against Jelena Jankovic.
Serbia's Jankovic is also back and seeded second this year. Jankovic has already won four titles this year, including tier one triumphs in Charleston and Rome.
Jankovic's compatriot, Ana Ivanovic, is No. 3 seed and will be playing for the first time since a semi-final defeat at Wimbledon.
Mirza, 20, moved up a notch to No. 30 in the rankings released Monday, after reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament in San Diego last week. She completed the opening day of play at the Home Depot Centre with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Canadian qualifier Wozniak.
Austrian Sybille Bammer, who broke into the top 20 in the rankings on Monday at No. 20, also advanced, defeating American Laura Granville 6-4, 6-2.
France's Tatiana Golovin, however, saw her campaign come to a premature halt as she retired from her match against Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn after dropping the first set 7-5 with a right hamstring strain.
It was another blow for the 19-year-old, who battled an ankle injury earlier this year.
"I probably shouldn't have even gone on the court," said Golovin, adding that she had actually started feeling discomfort during last week's tournament in San Diego. "I couldn't put any weight on it.
"When I went to hit before my match, after 10 or 15 minutes it started to get sore again and never went away. I shouldn't even have started," the 11th seed said.
The top eight seeds, led by world No. 2 Maria Sharapova, have first-round byes.
Sharapova will be seeking her second title in as many weeks, having launched her preparation for her US Open title defence with a victory at San Diego.
The Russian reached the semi-finals here last year, falling to compatriot and eventual champion Elena Dementieva.
Dementieva returns to defend the title she won with a victory in the final against Jelena Jankovic.
Serbia's Jankovic is also back and seeded second this year. Jankovic has already won four titles this year, including tier one triumphs in Charleston and Rome.
Jankovic's compatriot, Ana Ivanovic, is No. 3 seed and will be playing for the first time since a semi-final defeat at Wimbledon.