Sania makes 1st round singles exit at Oz Open

Melbourne, Jan 19: Hyderabad’s own Sania Mirza was knocked out of the singles event at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday. Sania at one time was among the top 30 ranked female tennis players in the world, has been defeated in straight-sets by her off-court friend, 26th seed Aravane Rezai of France.- Hide quoted text -The Hyderabadi girl is trying to get back into the top 100 in ATP rankings after taking time off from injury and her engagement to city businessman Sohrab Mirza last year.

Unseeded Sania lost her opening match 4-6, 2-6 in one hour and nine minutes to Rezai, currently at world number 27 in ATP rankings.Sania had the opportunity to break her opponent four times in the first set but failed to utilise the opportunities. Rezai latched on to the her one breakpoint to take the set.The Indian hope also got four breakpoints in the second set and managed to convert one. Rezai broke Sania’s serve three times in the set to take the match.Sania will now have to concentrate in the women’s doubles events with Virginia Ruano Pascual, her partner from Spain. She is seeded 10th in the women’s doubles.