Sania Mirza runner up at Forest Hills

Top result for HEAD partner before the US Open

Sania Mirza is 18 years of age, living in Hyderabad, India and coached by her father. She is one of the future hopes for a big career in tennis. She is the first Indian player in history to be ranked in the Top 50 and is a partner of HEAD.

In Forest Hills, New York, she reached the final without dropping one set beating Shahar Peer (Israel) 7:6, 6:1, Roberta Vinci (Italy) 6:2, 6:1 and 15-year old American wild card Alexa Glatch 6:4, 6:4. Mirza, playing with the Liquidmetal Instinct, started out playing perfectly in the final winning the first set 6:3 against Lucie Safarova from Czech Republic. She did however lose a very close second set 5:7, and then lost in the third. Mirza had problems with the powerful ground strokes and the tricky lefty service of Safarova.

“It was a good match and I gave it my best,” said Mirza afterwards, “but Lucie played a better match this day. I feel good and I’ m looking forward to the US Open.”

After winning her first title at her hometown Hyderabad in February this year, it was the second participation in a final for the big hitting teenager.

At the first round of the US Open, Mirza was able to beat Mashona Washington (USA) in a tough match with 7:6, 6:7 and 6:4, while Safarova lost against Elena Dementieva (Russia) with 5:7 and 3:6.