Sania Mirza upsets Anastasia Rodionova in the second qualifier – Brussels Open 2012
Indian super star, Sania Mirza, put up a brilliant show to surprise fourth seed Anastasia Rodionova of Australia in three sets, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2, in the second round of the qualifying draw at the Brussels Open in Belgium on Sunday.
Mirza needed one hour and 52 minutes to complete a tough win over her Australian opponent.
The Indian beauty was flawless in the first set, as she did not allow Rodionova to win even a single game, breaking the Australian thrice and snatching six successive games to seal it 6-0.
Mirza banged in a single ace and 50 percent of the first deliveries in the opening set. The best aspect of her game was the incredible conversion rate, as she clinched six of the seven points on both first and second serves.
The Indian further strengthened her grip on the match, as she broke Rodionova in the second game of the following set to build a 2-0 lead. However, the match witnessed an amazing turnaround later on, as the Australian produced
some brilliant shots to strike three times and capture six straight games, winning it 6-2.
Rodionova smacked one ace and 64 percent of the first serves, clinching 11 of the 16 points on them. The Australian did not do well on the second deliveries, as she lost six of the nine points on them but compensated that by pocketing
12 of the 19 on the second returns.
Mirza did not get disappointed by getting stunned in the second set, making a positive start in the decider. The Indian hit a blow to Rodionova in the second game and held her subsequent serve to race to a 3-0 lead. The Australian
opened up her account in the fourth to reduce the deficit to 1-3 but Mirza snatched two more, attaining a 5-1 advantage. Rodionova avoided some embarrassment by breaking the Indian in the seventh game but Mirza struck again in the eighth to close it 6-2.
The Indian pounded two aces but also committed one double fault in the decider. She had a below average first serve percentage of 53 but succeeded in snatching 12 of the 16 points on them. The former world top-30 inflicted most
of the damage on Rodionova with the help of attacking second returns, bagging nine of the 10 points on them.
Mirza will now lock horns with fifth seed, Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine, for a place in the main draw.
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