CALCUTTA, India, 21 September 2005 — Indian star Sania Mirza breezed through her first-round match against Japanese qualifier Junri Namigata 6-2, 6-2 at the WTA tour event here yesterday.
The third seed exhibited some superb forehand shots but struggled with her serves, with frequent double-faults.
“If you expect me to play perfect tennis, I can’t,” said Mirza, who made the fourth round of the recent US Open and now enjoys a world ranking of 34.
“What matters most is that I won.”
Meanwhile, India’s Sunitha Rao got the better of Neha Uberoi, who is of Indian origin but represents the United States, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in a 150-minute battle.
Neha’s elder sister Shikha Uberoi, who plays for India, had won her first round match on Monday. Popular Thai player Tamarine Tanasugarn went down tamely to lower-ranked Swede Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-1. “I have been suffering from a fever since I reached here. I wasn’t fit to play today and that made the difference,” said Tanasugarn.
Peng Powers Chinese Hopes Into
Beijing Second Round
In Beijing, China’s 33rd-ranked Shuei Peng led the way for compatriot Tiantain Sun as both reached the second round of the $585,000 China Open yesterday.
Peng, China’s No. 1, hammered Finnish qualifier Emma Laine 6-1, 6-1 in just 64 minutes. The victory was revenge for a loss Peng took three weeks ago in the US Open first round.
Earlier, Sun, one-half of China’s Athens Olympic champion doubles team, became the first local player to win, advancing into a Wednesday test against defending champion Serena Williams through a defeat of Russian Tatiana Panova 6-3, 6-4.
But American Jill Craybas spoiled a perfect day for China, defeating Na Li in a 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 comeback effort.
Spain’s Nuria Llagostera Vives beat Russian Alina Jidkova 2-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) to set up a meeting with Venus Williams.
Japan’s Aiko Nakamura advanced to the second round 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Italian Flavia Pennetta while Russia’s Maria Kirilenko stopped American qualifier James Jackson 7-5, 7-5. Conditions far from ideal, with light drizzle occasionally interrupting concentration.
World No. 1 1 Maria Sharapova arrived Tuesday to prepare for a Thursday start in the second round.
The teenager who broke through to stardom with her 2004 Wimbledon trophy, is keen for a challenge as she returns to Beijing after losing in the semi-finals last year to Svetlana Kuznetsova.
“I’m looking forward to taking it a step farther here, said the international style and sporting icon. “I want to defend my number 1 ranking. I want to show that I deserve it and that I can keep it.” Added Sharapova, who plays against either Israeli Shanar Peer or fellow Russian Vera Douchevina: “It’s been a good season for me so far (three titles and three Grand Slam semifinals).
“But my best was last season, winning Wimbledon was a dream.” She quickly added: “The Chinese fans are great and really seem to appreciate my game, they’re very enthusiastic.” Defending champion Serena Williams seems to have embarked on a successful “viral” marketing campaign aimed at her elder sister Venus, extolling the virtue of her winning Chinese debut here a year ago.
The girl-talk of the past few months seems to have worked a treat, with first-timer Venus keen to sample everything the huge city has to offer — from food to shops to sights, not forgetting the tennis.
“It’s become a legend in our house, it’s hard to separate myth from reality about this tournament,” said treble Wimbledon winner Venus, who arrived in the Chinese capital from Korea Tuesday after beating Sharapova in an exhibition.
“Serena has told me about how great it is here, I’m so excited about playing.”
Federer Relishing
Davis Cup Return
Meantiime, Britain’s Davis Cup team will have history on their side this weekend when they take on Switzerland in a bid to rejoin the world’s top 16 nations.
Unfortunately though for the British, their opponents will have a certain Roger Federer on their side. Britain have won all three of their previous Davis Cup encounters with Switzerland — dropping only one rubber in the process — but the world No. 1’s return to the Swiss squad has clearly stacked the odds in favor of the home team.
“The Davis Cup has always been quite special for me because playing for your country is totally different than playing for your own name,” the six-time grand slam champion told Reuters in an interview yesterday.
“Of course we’ll be the favorites with me as the world number one and us playing at home and on clay, which is not usually the British players’ favorite surface, so there are definitely many things working against them in this tie.
“At the same time (Andrew) Murray is coming along and Greg (Rusedski) has had a pretty good summer so they will know they have a chance to pull off an upset. We just have to make sure that we close them out in time.” Despite his professed enjoyment of this team competition, Federer has not let the Davis Cup get in the way of his individual ambitions on the ATP Tour.
It is likely that the Swiss would not even be fighting to retain their World Group status if Federer had chosen to take part in Switzerland’s first round tie against the Netherlands in March.
“Missing that tie was not an easy decision for me, especially when we have good young players like (Swiss number two) Stanislas Wawrinka coming through to strengthen the squad,” Federer said.
“But for me the big, big focus of the year was holding on to the number one position and playing another great year of tennis which was a decision that the team totally understood.
“I’ve already managed to achieve my goals for this year, by winning two grand slams and 10 tournaments so far, so now anything else that comes along is a bonus.”
Federer is, of course, not the only player to have put individual needs ahead of Davis Cup duties — the British squad are themselves having to do without the services of national number one Tim Henman, who announced his retirement from the competition in January.
“Henman was playing Davis Cup for 10 years, so I think his decision was totally understandable,” Federer reckoned.
