CWG tennis: Paes-Sania crash out, Somdev advances (Roundup)

NEW DELHI - Second seeds Leander Paes and Sania Mirza crashed out of the mixed doubles quarterfinals in the biggest upset of the Commonwealth Games tennis competition here Thursday. However, it was a happy day for India in the singles with both Somdev Devvarman and Sania romping into the semifinals with straight set victories.

Rushmi Chakravarthi, who had created a flutter a day before with a sensational win over third seed Katie O’ Brien of England, could not repeat her good performance and went down 5-7, 4-6 to sixth seeded Australian Olivia Rogowska.

However, it was a successful outing for India in men’s doubles with Somdev and Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi moving into the semi-finals.

In women’s doubles, Poojashree Venkatesha and Nirupama Sanjeev shocked second seeds Sarah Borwell and Anna Smith 7-5, 6-4 to reach the semifinals where they now square up against Australian Jessica Moore and Rogowska.

Somdev and Bopanna beat Australian Matt Ebden and Greg Jones 7-6 (5), 6-4 to set up a semifinal clash with third seeds Ross Hutchins and Ken Skupski. Paes and Bhupathi were stretched by England’s Josh Godall and James Ward, before the Indians prevailed 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4). They will next meet fourth seeds Australian Peter Luczak and Paul Hanle.

In singles, men’s top seed Somdev doused a spirited effort from sixth-seeded Rubin Statham of New Zealand 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes while women’s second seed Sania disposed off another New Zealander, Maria Erakovic, seeded eighth, 6-2, 6-3.

A lot was expected from Paes and Sania, who won gold at the 2006 Doha Asia Games and a packed stadium did everything to spur them on. But the gruelling schedule of playing two matches in a day took a toll on the Indians, who were playing together after four years and lost to Scotland’s Colin Fleming and Jocelyn Rae 5-7, 4-6.

“It was a tough ask, playing two matches in a day. But in professional tennis you have to live up to these demands. I was a bit tired but our opponents also played quite well,” said Paes, who had finished his match with Bhupathi barely an hour before the start of the mixed doubles.

In singles, it was again a wobbly start for Somdev. The world’s 97th-ranked Indian’s serve somewhat troubled him in the first set, which saw the two players sharing five breaks of serves. Statham, ranked 353, on the other hand, looked dangerous with his powerful forehand but perished in his attempt to go for quick winners.

Somdev had earlier beaten Statham in straight sets in the qualifiers in the $50,000 Lexington enroute his maiden Challenger title.

“I am happy to be in the semi-finals. The court is a bit slow, but I am feeling really fit, thanks to my coaches,” said Somdev, who next plays third seeded Australian Ebden.

“I have never played him (Ebden) before. But he is a very good player and I will have to play well against him, I can’t afford to give him too many chances.”

Sania looked in a hurry to wrap up her match against an off-colour Erakovic, once a top-50 player. The Indian was in her element as she smashed powerful groundstrokes and even sent down three aces during a nearly hour-long tie.

Sania next plays Rogowska.