Sport - Tennis

Sania wins her doubles opener

INDIAN WELLS: Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek, seeded seventh, sailed past Poland’s Klaudia Jans and Gabriela Navratilova, with a 6-3, 6-2 win in the first round of the Pacific Life Open on Wednesday.

Sania, seeded 21 in the singles, got a bye in the first round. In the second, she will face Ukrainian Olga Savchuk, who rallied to beat Russian Yaroslava Shvedova 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in her first round match.

Qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France crushed American Lilia Osterloh 6-1, 6-2 to set up a meeting with fifth seed Maria Sharapova.

Cohen-Aloro, who retired from the opening round in Memphis last month because of a viral illness, sealed victory in one hour and 22 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Sharapova, the 2006 champion who claimed her third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, had a bye into the second round.

In an earlier match, Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova swept past Meilen Tu of the United States 6-4, 6-2 to book a place in the second round against compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, the second seed.

World No. 2 Ana Ivanovic is the top seed in the women’s draw.

The results: First round: Ekaterina Makarova bt Meilen Tu 6-4, 6-2; Klara Zakopalova bt Maria Emila Salerni 6-4, 6-4; Zheng Jie bt Emilie Loit 6-0, 6-1; Tsvetana Pironkova bt Marta Domachowska 6-4, 6-2; Ashley Harkleroad bt Tatiana Perebiynis 6-2, 6-0; Akgul Amanmuradova bt Anastasia Rodionova 6-4, 6-3; Edina Gallovits bt Yvonne Meusburger 6-4, 2-6, 6-1; Mariya Koryttseva bt Nathalie Dechy 6-1, 6-4; Yan Zi bt Urszula Radwanska 2-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Angela Haynes bt Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2; Peng Shuai bt Tatjana Malek 6-4, 6-3; Olga Savchuk bt Yaroslava Shvedova 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4); Jill Craybas bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-6(2), 6-4; Sofia Arvidsson bt Renata Voracova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Caroline Wozniacki bt Melinda Czink 6-2, 7-6(4).