The Hindu : Sport : Sania Mirza makes semifinals

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Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006
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Sania Mirza makes semifinals

Kamesh Srinivasan

Leander, Mahesh breeze past Pakistani duo into the last four

MAVERICK PAIR: India's Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi had an easy time against Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan. — Photo: AFP

DOHA: She punched the air with a clenched fist and jumped for joy, even as the centre court exploded in a warm round of applause on a cold evening at the Khalifa Tennis Complex. Beating Suchanan Viratprasert, ranked 340 in the world, was no big deal for Sania Mirza, no matter that the Thai had beaten her in the last meeting two years ago. Yet, it was a moment to celebrate as the win ensured her third medal from the Games. Playing as well as she has been for more than a week in the Qatar capital, Sania out-hit the gutsy Suchanan 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour. Having beaten the much superior Tamarine Tanasugarn in the team competition on way to the silver, it was easy meat for Sania.

Except for getting broken once each in the two sets, Sania called the shots, especially in the second set when she took a 4-0 lead. Moving briskly into her shots, Sania showed tremendous maturity as she mixed a deft touch to the explosive winners.

Up against Na Li

She will be up against the top-seeded Na Li of China who got past the defending champion Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan in three sets in another quarterfinals. The Chinese, ranked No.21 in the world, has been a phenomenon this season, reaching the quarterfinals at Wimbledon apart from the fourth round at the US Open and the third at the French Open. More importantly, she may have the psychological edge as she had beaten Sania in the Asian Champinship final two years ago.

For Sania, reputation of the opposition or their record does not matter. She plays the ball on merit these days and has the maturity to be a nightmare to anyone in the world.

"A lot of things have changed in more than two years since I had lost to her. She is the top seed here and I can play freely without any pressure. Am happy with the quality of my game at this point. Am ready to give it the best shot,'' Sania said.

Sania's mixed doubles partner, Leander Paes also ensured a second medal for himself as he reached the semifinals of doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi.

Paes-Bhupathi advance

In a nearly packed to capacity smaller show-court No.8, Leander and Mahesh Bhupathi asserted themselves against the Pakistani Davis Cup pair of Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan in straight sets.

As expected, Aqeel proved the weak link, particularly at the net, and the Indian pair made sure that they did not play too many balls to the more talented Aisam.

Except for facing breakpoints in the eighth game of the first set on Leander's serve, and two breakpoints in the first game of the second set on Mahesh's serve, when the latter landed his only doublefault of the match, the Indian pair faced little challenge.

The Pakistanis tried too much too early and stumbled to a 0-4 start. It was a net-chord that saw Aisam getting broken in the first game of the match, and the Indian pair did not need much of such luck on a gloomy day when play started late owing to rain.

Aisam was profoundly apologetic when he hit his erstwhile doubles partner Leander with a sharp volley in the third game in saving a breakpoint, but it was the Indian pair that ruled the net, both with power and touch. Mahesh did struggle to put away the forehands from the back court but played quite sharp overall to ensure a smooth passage.

In the semifinals, the Indian duo will take on Cecil Mamiit and Federico Taino of Philippines who beat Uzbeks, Denis Istomin and Murad Inoyatov 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4).

The fourth-seeded Mustafa Ghouse and Rohan Bopanna went down in straight sets to the Koreans in another quarterfinals. It was one step short for Mustafa, as he had won the bronze in the last edition with Vishaal Uppal.

The results:

Men's doubles (quarterfinals): Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi bt Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan 6-2, 6-4; Woong Sun Jun and Sun Young Kim (Kor) bt Mustafa Ghouse and Rohan Bopanna 7-6 (2), 6-1.

Women (quarterfinals): Sania Mirza bt Suchanan Viratprasert (Tha) 6-3, 6-2.

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