Dementieva ends Sania's Pacific Open campaign

Indian Wells, Mar 14 (UNI) Sania Mirza ran out of steam against her Russian fourth seed opponent Elena Dementieva and went down 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in her third round match to bow out of the 2.1 million dollar Pacific Life Open here.

Sania started well in the two-hour-long battle but the Russian came back strongly after being a set down to clinch the match.

The Indian broke her opponent thrice in the first set to win it 7-5 but her tendency to let the momentum slip, again proved to be her undoing as Dementieva held on in the next two sets to stage a comeback.

Sania was broken four times in the second set by the Russian who won the set comfortably 6-4.

The match went in to the decider where Dementieva proved to be too good for the Indian and despite committing six double faults, the Russian managed to march ahead after winning the set 6-4.

It was a disappointing result for the Indian, who gave a spirited fight to the higher ranked player and did not commit a single double fault in the match. It was also the first time this year that Sania managed to reach the third round of a singles competition.

Sania had earlier beaten local qualifier Bethanie Mattek 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in the second round.

After this, the Hyderabadi will be seen in the second round match of doubles competition where she and her Japaneese partner Ai Sugiyama will take on the second seeded pair of Cara Blacks and Rennae Stubbs today.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes will also start their respective doubles campaign today.

Bhupathi will team up with South African Wesley Moodie to take on the top seed US pair of Bob and Mike Bryan. The fifth seeded pair of Paes and Czech Martin Damm will face the US-South African pair of Robby Gineperi and Chris Haggard in their first round match today.

UNI XC PM YA DS1056