Asian Games: Sania scorches second seed to enter semis

GUANGZHOU: Sania Mirza was at her aggressive best as she crushed Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-2, 6-3 to make the women’s singles semifinals at the Asian Games on Saturday. A bronze is assured but going by the way Sania took out the Thai veteran, a gold or a silver seems likely.
Sania also moved into the mixed-doubles semifinals along with Vishnu Vardhan. The pair downed Chuang Chia Jung and Yi Chu Huan 6-2, 4-6, 10-4 to promise India a bronze as of now.
Somdev Devvarman and Karan Rastogi entered the men’s singles quarterfinals while the men’s doubles combo of Somdev and Sanam Singh assured India a bronze with a 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Bai Yan and Zhang Ze of China.
On this big day for Indian tennis, it was Sania who stole her teammates’ thunder. Broken early in the first set, she reeled off five games to take the opening set before she combined her scorching forehand with four aces to shut out 2nd seed Tanasugarn in 87 minutes. "I feel I am playing better every match. I am happy that I could stay focused for these two sets. It was good to finish in two sets," she said.
Sania isn’t too bothered that she is not seeded in this tournament. "When you are not a seed, you are playing tougher matches. This is how it is. You have to beat them all if you want to win the tournament," she said.
Asked about her prospects against Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan in the semifinals on Sunday, she said: "I am going to enjoy this victory; I have a bronze now. I will go out and play my game, worry about what I have to do rather than what the other person wants to do."
Second seed Somdev, who cruised past Vaja Uzakov 6-1, 6-1 is pitted against Zhang Ze of China for a berth in the men’s singles last four while Rastogi faces a difficult path as he is up against top seed Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
In men’s doubles, Somdev and Sanam are up against Kim Hyun Joon and Cho Soong Jae of Korea while Sania and Vishnu take on Tanasugarn and Sanchai Ratiwatana of Thailand.
Results
Women’s singles (quarterfinals):
Sania Mirza (Ind) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (Tha) 6-2, 6-3.
Men’s singles (3rd round):
Somdev Devvarman (Ind) bt Vaja Uzakov (Uzb) 6-1, 6-1.
Karan Rastogi (Ind) bt Chen Ti (Tpe) 6-0, 6-4.
Doubles (quarterfinals):
Somdev Devvarman & Sanam Singh (Ind) bt Bai Yan & Zhang Ze (Chn) 6-2, 6-4.
Mixed doubles (quarterfinals):
Sania Mirza & Vishnu Vardhan (Ind) bt Chuang Chia Jung & Yi Chu Huan (Tpe) 6-2, 4-6, 10-4.