Sania enters quarter-finals of Japan Open

By IANS

Tokyo : Second seed Sania Mirza was stretched to three sets by Casey Dellacqua of Australia in the second round Wednesday morning before winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to move into the quarter finals of the Japan Open tennis championships.


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The Indian, currently ranked 29th in the world, next meets the winner of the clash between Flavia Penetta and Abigail Spears.

Mirza started off well taking the first set 6-4 but Dellacqua fought back in the second, breaking Mirza early to level matters, winning the second set 6-3. In the decider, Mirza stepped up the pace and took the match 6-4.

Also moving into the quarter-finals was Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic who beat wild card Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Mirza’s path has been made somewhat simpler with the elimination of third seed Maria Kirilenko, who lost in the first round. Third seed Kirilenko was expected to be the stiffest test for Mirza in the bottom half of the draw.

American Venus Williams is the tournament’s top seed.

Mirza had already entered the women’s doubles quarter-final Tuesday.

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