Somdev stuns World No. 31 Raonic, Sania loses to Kirilenko (Lead)
March 26th, 2011 - 3:22 am ICT by IANS
Miami, March 26 (IANS) India had mixed luck at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament as Somdev Devvarman pulled off a sensational 7-6(5), 7-5 victory over world No.31 Milos Raonic of Canada to enter the third round of the men’s singles, while their top woman player Sania Mirza lost to Russian Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 3-6, 0-6, here Friday.
Somdev, who touched the career high rank of 73 this week, broke the Canadian’s service four times to win the match in just over two hours.
The 26-year-old Indian next plays the winner of the match between sixth seed David Ferrer of Spain and qualifier Igor Kunitsyn of Russia.
Raonic, who got a bye in the first round, had won his first career ATP title earlier this year.
Somdev has had a terrific run in the last one month, having beaten three top 50 players — Marcos Baghdatis (20) and Xavier Malaisse (45) at the BNP Paribas World Tour Masters at Indian Wells before losing to World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and before coming to play on the US circuit he beat Janko Tipsarevic (44) in the Davis Cup tie against Serbia.
He also gave good account of himself against then World No. 2 Roger Federer in Dubai.
Sania, who beat Kirilenko in their both previous meetings, looked like maintaining her unbeaten record against the Russian when she took the first set. But the 27th ranked Russian broke the 99th ranked Indian midway the second set, and thereafter, there was no looking back for her.
Sania had a couple of opportunities to break back but her serve let her down.
A set-all, Kirlienko breezed through the decider, giving no chance to the Indian to get back into the match.
– Indo-Asian News Service
vs/sd
- Sony Ericsson Open: Somdev storms into third round - Mar 26, 2011
- Somdev to play Starace in opening round at Miami - Mar 22, 2011
- Somdev reaches career best 73 in singles - Mar 21, 2011
- Qualifier Somdev stuns Baghdatis, enters third round - Mar 13, 2011
- Somdev knocks out Xavier Malisse, to meet Nadal - Mar 15, 2011
- Australian Open: Djokovic marches on; Roddick retires (Roundup) - Jan 19, 2012
- Sania stays in qualifying race, Somdev beaten - Aug 14, 2011
- Somdev in second round of Indian Wells - Mar 11, 2011
- It's all about my serve: Raonic - Jan 09, 2012
- Malaysian Open: Somdev sets up second round clash with Baghdatis - Sep 27, 2011
- Chaennai Open: Raonic conquers Tipsarevic for title - Jan 09, 2012
- US Open: Somdev plays Andy Murray, Sania meets Sahar Peer - Aug 26, 2011
- Tipsarevic beats Baghdatis to win Malaysian Open - Oct 02, 2011
- Djokovic, Sharapova coast into Australian Open fourth round (Roundup) - Jan 22, 2012
- Davis Cup: Somdev stuns Tipsarevic, India level with Serbia (Lead) - Mar 05, 2011
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