The Hindu : Sport : Sania Mirza sends Peer packing

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Sania Mirza sends Peer packing

Paes-Hanley and Bhupathi-Knowles pairs progress

— Photo: AFP

BOUNCING BACK: Sania Mirza lost the first set but rallied to beat Shahar Peer.

INDIAN WELLS: Sania Mirza continued her domination of Shahar Peer, defeating the ninth-seeded Israeli in three sets, to reach the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open here on Sunday. Sania triumphed 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-3 for her third straight win over Peer in four meetings.

“We always play tough matches, but it’s about finding a way to win,” Sania said.

Pleased

Sania, ranked 32nd in the world, said she was pleased that she was able to regain her focus after dropping a tight first set.

Sania earned a fourth round meeting with Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova, the defending champion in the tier one tournament that runs alongside the ATP Masters Series event here. Hantuchova, the fifth seed, beat China’s Zheng Jie 6-4, 6-2.

Sharapova through

Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, the fourth seed, advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou.

Roddick loses to Haas

In the men’s event, Andy Roddick lost his temper as well as his third round match. Roger Federer, meanwhile, was as cool as usual.

Roddick broke at least two rackets, hit a ball out of the crowded stadium and threw several temper tantrums in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Tommy Haas.

Later, the top-ranked Federer, weakened by illness and coming off consecutive losses in tour matches, began his bid for a fourth Indian Wells title with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Good day for Indians

In doubles, Leander Paes and his Australian partner Paul Hanley warded off the challenge of David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas to enter the quarterfinals. The eighth-seeded pair beat the Argentine duo 7-5, 2-6, 10-5 in the second round.

The sixth-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of Bahamas won their opening encounter against German Christopher Kas and Dutchman Rogier Wassen 6-3, 7-6(3).

Important results:

Men: Singles: Third round: Andy Murray bt Jurgen Melzer 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Tommy Haas bt Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-4; David Nalbandian bt Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(4); Mario Ancic bt Fernando Gonzalez 7-5, 3-6, 6-3; Roger Federer bt Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-2; Ivan Ljubicic bt Mario Cilic 7-6(7), 7-5; Mardy Fish bt Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-3; Lleyton Hewitt bt Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-3; Nikolay Davydenko bt John Isner 6-2, 7-6(3).

Doubles: Second round: Leander Paes & Paul Hanley bt David Nalbandian & Guillermo Canas 7-5, 2-6, 10-5; First round: Mahesh Bhupathi & Mark Knowles bt Christopher Kas & Rogier Wassen 6-3, 7-6(3).

Women: Third round: Sania Mirza bt Shahar Peer 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-3; Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 4-6, 6-3; Alona Bondarenko bt Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-2; Maria Sharapova bt Eleni Daniilidou 7-5, 6-3; Ashley Harkleroad bt Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-2; Daniela Hantuchova bt Zheng Jie 6-4, 6-2. — Agencies

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