Sania out of doubles too

BIRMINGHAM: There seems no end to Sania Mirza’s woes and after her shocking third round defeat at the hand of an American qualifier in the singles, the Indian, partnering Italian Francesca Schiavone, crashed out of the doubles event as well in the first round of the $200,000 DFS Classic tennis tournament here.


Seeded third, the Indo-Italian duo blew off the advantage after winning the first set and went down 6-4, 2-6, 2-6 to Elena Vesnina of Russia and her Chinese comprade-in-arms Zi Yan in one hour 44 minutes.

Sania had earlier made an exit from the singles event with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-7(3) defeat inflicted by the American qualifier Meilen Tu in the third round on Thursday.
Federer in last eight

Roger Federer won his 38th straight match on grass, overcoming Richard Gasquet of France 7-6(7), 6-7(7), 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open.

Important results: At London (Stella Artois Championships): Third round: Lleyton Hewitt bt Max Mirnyi 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4); Rafael Nadal bt Fernando Verdasco 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(3).

At Halle (Gerry Weber Open): Second round: Roger Federer bt Richard Gasquet 7-6(7), 6-7(7), 6-4; Fabrice Santoro bt Arnaud Clement 6-4, 7-6(2); Olivier Rochus bt Marat Safin 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

At Birmingham (WTA DFS Classic): Quarterfinals: Meilen Tu bt Marion Bartoli 6-4, 6-4. Third round: Jamea Jackson bt Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 0-6, 7-5; Maria Sharapova bt Li Na 6-2, 6-4; Meilen Tu bt Sania Mirza 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(3). — Agencies