Date:28/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/28/stories/2008022855342100.htm

Sport - Tennis

Jankovic rallies to beat Sania Mirza

DUBAI: Sania Mirza crashed out of the Dubai Open on Wednesday, falling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic. Mirza had advanced to the second round beating qualifier Vera Dushevina 7-6(5), 6-2 on Tuesday. The top-seeded Venus Williams was stunned in the first round of the Memphis International by Czech qualifier Petra Kvitova.

Important results: At Memphis (Memphis championships): First round: Men: Radek Stepanek bt Jesse Levine 6-1, 6-4; Thomas Johansson bt Marat Safin 7-6(5), 7-6(2). Women: Bethanie Mattek bt Tatiana Golovin 6-4, 6-4; Shahar Peer bt Ahsha Rolle 6-2, 6-1; Petra Kvitova bt Venus Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

At Acapulco (Acapulco International championships): First round: Men: David Nalbandian bt Boris Pasanski 6-2, 7-5; Carlos Moya bt Werner Eschauer 6-4, 6-4.

At Zagreb (ATP Zagreb indoors): First round: Ivan Ljubicic bt Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 7-6(7); Mario Ancic bt Nicolas Mahut 7-6(3), 7-6(6).

At Dubai (WTA Dubai Open): Second round: Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Lucie Safarova 6-1, 6-2; Jelena Jankovic bt Sania Mirza 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Anna Chakvetadze bt Dinara Safina 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3; Amélie Mauresmo bt Akiko Morigami 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 . First round: Sania Mirza bt Vera Dushevina 7-6(5), 6-2; Amelie Mauresmo bt Anabel Medina Garrigues 7-6(7), 6-2; Anna Chakvetadze bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. — Agencies