New York, Sep 1 (Inditop.com) India’s Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarnman got off to winning starts in the US Open tennis at Flushing Meadows.
The 161st-ranked Somdev dispatched the 110th-ranked Portuguese Fredrico Gil 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to move into the men’s single second round. Sania battled past Olga Govortsova of Belarus 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the women’s draw here Monday.
India No.1 Somdev last week became the first men’s player to qualify for the singles main draw of a Grand Slam event in seven years.
Somdev has had his best run on the Tour after a sensational start to his pro-career when he entered the final at the Chennai Open in January. On the US hardcourt circuit, he entered third round at Legg Mason Classic in Washington and also qualified for the LA Open.
“I competed well. That’s what gets you through those tough ones, the way you compete,” said Somdev, twice National Collegiate of Athletic Association (NCAA) champion.
“I don’t want to jinx myself but I feel good about where I am. I’ve had a couple of quality wins. It gives me a lot of confidence and belief that I can come out and compete with anyone. My game is up there with the rest.”
The 24-year-old now faces a tough challenge in World No. 23 Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-0, 6-4, 6-4.
It was a tough match for the 22-year-old Sania but her willingness to force the pace by coming to the net made the difference and proved to be the wining factor.
Sania didn’t break much sweat to win the first set. But the 20-year-old Belarusian fought back in the second set to draw parity.
The 74th-ranked Sania took a 5-3 lead in the decider and with another break of serve, she closed the set and the match. She will now take on 10th seed Italian Flavia Pennetta.
“I’m happy with the way I’m playing,” Sania, who made it to the fourth round here in 2005, said. “Physically I’ve never been fitter in terms of the way I’m moving on the court.
“I came up with the big shot that I needed to have. Now I play a seed but I am under no pressure.”
rounak