INDIA WELLS (USA): India's Sania Mirza combining with Chinese Zhang Shuai put up a good resistance before third seeded Japanese pair Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara who just managed to snatch a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 15-13 verdict in the women's doubles first round match in the WTA Masters-1000 $16, 718, 910 Indian Wells Open here today.
The Indo-Chinese pair won 78 percent points on the first serve and 52 per cent points on the second serve. The Japanese duo won 60 percent points on the first serve and 72 percent points on the second serve.
Sanida-Shuai committed two double faults while their rivals served on ace and committed three double faults.
Sania-Shuai earned $16, 870.
BALAJI LOSES: In the second singles round qualifying of the €44, 820 ATP Challenger Open de Vendee, Mouilleron-Captif, France, top seed Zizou Bergs (Belgium) beat alternate N.Sriram Balaji (India) 6-2 7- 6(0).
In the doubles (pre-q-finals) Jonathan Eysseric and Quentin Halys (France) beat N.Sriram Balaji and Divij Sharan (India) 6-4 3-6 10-6.
Filip Horansky and Alex Molcan (Slovakia) defeated 4th seed Jeevan Nedunchiyan and Purav Raja (India) 6-7(2), 6-, 10-8 in doubles pre quarter-final of the ATP Challenger $44, 820 Emilo Sanchez Academy, Barcelona, Spain.
Indian Arjun Kadhe, partnering Ruben Gonzales (Phillipine) , lost to wild card pair of Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedlier (Austria) 6-3, 7-6 (3) in doubles quarter-final.