Sania storms into second round of Hobart event

Hobart, Jan 8 (UNI) Sania Mirza began the new season in style with an upset 6-4, 6-4 victory over fourth seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International tennis tournament here today.

The 20-year-old Hyderabadi, who was given wild card in the 145,000 dollar tier IV hardcourt event, will meet in the next round Italian world number 52 Romina Oprandi, who beat Elena Likhovtseva of Russia 7-6, 6-1.

Sania will team up with Alicia Molik of Australia in the doubles and they take on Bonderenko sisters Alona and Kateryna of Ukraine in the opening match.

Meanwhile, defending champion Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands crashed out of singles draw, losing to Severine Bremond of France 6-3, 1-6, 0-6, according to information received here today.

Top seed and world number 13 Russian Anna Chakvetadze, who has been drawn in the upper half of the main draw along with Sania, also beat Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-0, 6-4 to advance into the second round.

Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues, to whom Sania lost in the Hopman Cup singles in Perth, has been seeded second and placed in the lower half of the draw.

Serena Williams of USA will also make a comeback from a four-month injury layoff against Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson.

Sania, who moved up one place to 65th in the WTA rankings released today, is taking part in the tournament to prepare for the Australian Open starting from January 15 in Melbourne.

She reached the third round in 2005 but crashed out in the first round last year in the season's first Grand Slam.

Meanwhile in the latest WTA rankings, Shikha Uberoi slipped two places to 208 while Ankita Bhambri (414), Isha Lakhani (422) and Rushmi Chakravarthi (423) moved up one place each.

Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne still leads the WTA chart, followed by Russian Maria Sharapova and Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo.

UNI