Mirza upsets Peer in US tennis
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
INDIAN WELLS, Mar 17 (AFP): India's Sania Mirza continued her domination of Shahar Peer, defeating the ninth-seeded Israeli in three sets Sunday to reach the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open.
Mirza triumphed 6-7 (7/9), 7-5, 6-3 for her fourth career win over Peer in as many meetings.
"We always play tough matches, but it's about finding the way to win," Mirza said.
Mirza, ranked 32nd in the world, said she was pleased that she was able to regain her focus after dropping the tight first set.
Although she has reached just one quarter-final this year, the 21-year-old from Hyderabad said she believes she has coped well given off-court distractions she has faced.
Mirza, a Muslim, has been criticised in the past by Islamist groups for wearing short skirts while competing, and found it necessary to apologise for filming an advertisement near an historic mosque.
In January she faced a lawsuit, now dropped, for alleged disrespect after photographs showed her bare feet resting near the Indian flag.
Mirza earned a fourth-round meeting with Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, the defending champion of the women's tier one tournament that runs alongside the ATP Masters Series event here. Hantuchova, the fifth seed, beat China's Zheng Jie 6-4, 6-2. Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, the fourth seed, advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Greece's Eleni Daniilidou.
Sharapova next faces Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko, ranked 24th in the world. Bondarenko defeated former world number one Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-2.
Second-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova struggled through with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova.
Kuznetsova booked a meeting with Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Japan's Aiko Nakamura.
American Ashley Harkleroad, ranked 73rd in the world, shocked eighth-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-2, lining up a meeting with Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winner over China's Peng Shuai.
Top seed Ana Ivanovic headlines women's play on Monday, when third-seeded Jelena Jankovic, sixth seed Marion Bartoli and US favourite Lindsay Davenport were all in action.
Mirza triumphed 6-7 (7/9), 7-5, 6-3 for her fourth career win over Peer in as many meetings.
"We always play tough matches, but it's about finding the way to win," Mirza said.
Mirza, ranked 32nd in the world, said she was pleased that she was able to regain her focus after dropping the tight first set.
Although she has reached just one quarter-final this year, the 21-year-old from Hyderabad said she believes she has coped well given off-court distractions she has faced.
Mirza, a Muslim, has been criticised in the past by Islamist groups for wearing short skirts while competing, and found it necessary to apologise for filming an advertisement near an historic mosque.
In January she faced a lawsuit, now dropped, for alleged disrespect after photographs showed her bare feet resting near the Indian flag.
Mirza earned a fourth-round meeting with Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, the defending champion of the women's tier one tournament that runs alongside the ATP Masters Series event here. Hantuchova, the fifth seed, beat China's Zheng Jie 6-4, 6-2. Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, the fourth seed, advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Greece's Eleni Daniilidou.
Sharapova next faces Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko, ranked 24th in the world. Bondarenko defeated former world number one Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-2.
Second-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova struggled through with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova.
Kuznetsova booked a meeting with Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Japan's Aiko Nakamura.
American Ashley Harkleroad, ranked 73rd in the world, shocked eighth-seeded Russian Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-2, lining up a meeting with Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winner over China's Peng Shuai.
Top seed Ana Ivanovic headlines women's play on Monday, when third-seeded Jelena Jankovic, sixth seed Marion Bartoli and US favourite Lindsay Davenport were all in action.