Sania reaches second round in Pacific Life Open doubles

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) Sania Mirza and her Japanese partner Ai Sugiyama came back from behind to beat Stephanie Foretz (France) and Antonella Serra Zanetti (Italy) to move into the second round of the women's doubles event of the 2.1 million dollar Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, USA today.

The Indo-Japanese pair had not settled into their rhythm before their rivals ran away with the first set. Sensing danger, Sania and Sugiyama raised their game and won the second set to stretch it to the decider.

The third set was also fought well but Sania and Sugiyama kept their nerves till the end and grabbed the opportunities that came their way to move into the next round, according to information received here today.

The Asian pair, however, will need to come up with an improved show in the next round where they meet second seeds Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs after the Zimbabwe-Australian duo swept away Anastassia Rodionova (Russia) and Jasmin Woehr (Germany) 6-1, 6-1 in their first round match.

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