MIRZA STORMS INTO SECOND ROUND AT RAIN AFFECTED DFS CLASSIC
Indian superstar Sania Mirza led the charge in day two action
at the DFS Classic after overcoming Alyona Bondarenko of Ukraine
6-3,3-6,6-3. The 14th seed from Hyderabad came back from 1-3
down in the final set, winning five consecutive games to seal
victory at the Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham.
“I played better in the first set as I was trying to
come to the net as much as possible,” said Mirza. “In
the second set though she raised her level and for some strange
reason I changed my strategy, which I shouldn’t have
done. But I pulled it all together in the end.”
“It’s great being back here as grass really suits
my game. It helps as I like to take risks to win matches.
Next round will be difficult though as I play Shenay Perry.
We haven’t played before, but she plays a big game so
I know it will be a tough match.”
Only four of the 12 scheduled singles matches were completed
after rain halted play at 1:40pm. Mirza was joined in the
second round by rising Chinese star Shuai Peng, who came back
from the brink, to defeat veteran Australian Nicole Pratt
2-6,7-5,6-4. The world number 51 will now play 8th seed and
last year’s runner-up Jelena Jankovic in the second
round.
Other victors on day two were American lucky loser Bethanie
Mattek who overcame German Julia Schruff 6-4,6-7(6),6-1 and
Jamila Gajdosova of the Slovak Republic who defeated China’s
Meng Yuan 6-3,6-4.
Australian Alicia Molik was forced to withdraw with a stiff
neck. She was replaced by lucky loser Anne Kremer of Luxembourg,
who was 0-5 down to Russian Vera Zvonareva when rain halted
play.
Martina Navratilova brightened an otherwise damp afternoon
by announcing that her knee injury was improving and she was
still hoping to play doubles next week at the Hasting Direct
International Championships at Eastbourne and Wimbledon.
“It doesn’t hurt, it just keeps swelling up.
It’s just my body saying ‘time out’.”
said Navratilova. “It’s strange being back on
the grass and not being able to play. I can’t complain
though as I’m doing what I love, and I love what I am
doing. We get to play our favourite game for a living.”
Top seed and two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova
will now play her second round match against American Ahsha
Rolle on Wednesday. They will be third on centre court after
the resumption of the match between Kremer and Zvonareva and
the encounter between British number one Anne Keothavong and
Eleni Daniilidou of Greece.
British number four Sarah Borwell will also be in action
as she takes on American Jamea Jackson for a place in the
third round.
The main draw of the DFS Classic will run between 12th and
18th June at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham.
|
