DUBAI, 2 March 2005 — US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was stunned 6-4, 6-2 by 18-year-old Indian sensation Sania Mirza in the Dubai Open second round yesterday.

Mirza is attaining film star status in her homeland after becoming the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in Melbourne last month. She was also the first Indian to win a WTA Tour event, in Hyderabad. Mirza further underlined her potential against Kuznetsova, recovering from a shaky start to produce a supremely confident performance.

The match initially looked like being a major embarrassment for Mirza, who attracted nearly 5,000 spectators consisting mainly of expat workers to the center court.

She lost the first game to love in 42 seconds as the fourth-seeded Russian fired two aces, and fell behind 4-0 after suffering an ankle injury.

She received several minutes of treatment but double-faulted twice at 3-0 as she experienced problems serving.

The match turned round dramatically, however, as Mirza banished her early nerves and began to hit the ball sweetly from all angles.

Her forehand was especially damaging, and she struck several winning returns against the world No. 6.

After winning six straight games to take the first set Mirza continued to grow in confidence, pumping her fist and forcing a forehand error from Kuznetsova to break in the first game of the second set.

Although the Russian immediately broke back to level at 1-1, she failed two win three game points in the next game before Mirza broke again.

Urged on by the boisterous crowd, Mirza continued to pound the ball at every opportunity and her efforts were rewarded with a superb crosscourt forehand winner that gave her a further break to lead 5-2.

After a brief wobble as she fell behind 0-40, Mirza then closed out the best win of her career after setting up match point with a double-handed winner down the line.

In other games, Elena Likhovtseva needed nine match points to beat Tunisian wild card Selima Sfar 2-6, 6-2 7-6 in the first round.

Russian Likhovtseva, ranked 97 places above her opponent, received treatment for cramp brought on by dehydration during match, which lasted two hours 38 minutes.

Sfar, 27, was given a point penalty for swearing during the third set and had to fight off three match points at 5-2 down.

She fought off three more at 6-5 before Likhovtseva built a 6-3 lead in the tiebreak and finally closed out the match on her ninth match point. French seventh seed Nathalie Dechy struggled past Russian qualifier Vera Douchevina 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 and Na Li of China beat Ai Sugiyama 1-6, 7-6, 6-2 to leave the Japanese with just one victory in seven matches this year.

Hewitt Fit and Refreshed After Month’s Break

In Sydney, Lleyton Hewitt has declared himself fully fit to lead Australia in this week’s Davis Cup tie with Austria after taking a month’s holiday.

Hewitt has not played since losing the Australian Open final to Russian Marat Safin in January when he was troubled by a hip injury. The world No. 2 was back on the practice courts yesterday feeling fit and refreshed after his layoff.

“I feel good at the moment,” Hewitt told reporters yesterday. “Fitness should not be a problem. “I am just trying to get the motivation and adrenaline back in the body.”

With his fitness back in order, Hewitt is likely to play singles and doubles against the Austrians.

Wayne Arthurs, who has formed a fine doubles partnership with Todd Woodbridge, is now assured of the second singles spot after winning his maiden ATP title in the United States over the weekend.

Arthurs’ late return to Australia has left him short of match practice on grass, the surface for the first round Davis Cup tie, giving Australia the option of teaming Hewitt with Woodbridge.

“The confidence factor is going to outweigh the lack of practice I have on the court,” Arthurs said after his arrival in Sydney yesterday. “I am a little bit of a confidence player and to get those matches under my belt was important.”

Australia are overwhelming favorites to win the tie but non-playing captain John Fitzgerald is taking nothing for granted.

Fitzgerald was in charge when Australia lost the 2001 final at home to France as well as last year’s first round tie at home to Sweden.

“They have some quality in their team,” Fitzgerald said. “We only have an advantage because we are at home and grass suits us.”

Pavel, Hanescu to Play Singles Against Belarus

In Brasov, Romania, Andrei Pavel and Victor Hanescu will play the singles for Romania in this weekend’s first-round Davis Cup tie against Belarus, the country’s team captain said yesterday.

“Pavel and Hanescu will surely play the singles,” Florin Segarceanu said.

Segarceanu added Pavel and Razvan Sabau will team up together for Saturday’s doubles match. Romania host Belarus on an indoor clay court from March 4-6.