Pattaya: Sania Mirza dug deep into her reserves to overcome a fighting Anne Keothavong 6-4, 7-5 to progress to the singles quarterfinals of the $220,000 Pattaya Open here today.
The unseeded Indian, ranked 111, tamed the giant-killing British rival in a hard-fought second round match after an hour and 40 minute struggle.
Keothavong, ranked 88, had shocked second seed and world number 16 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the opening round.
Sania Mirza dug deep into her reserves to overcome a fighting Anne Keothavong 6-4, 7-5 to progress to the quarterfinals of the $220,000 Pattaya Open. Getty Images
Sania has also reached the doubles quarterfinals with Australian partner Anastasia Rodionova.
The top-seeded pair routed the hapless French pair of Iryna Bremond and Caroline 6-0, 6-2 in the first round.
They will face the local pair of Varatchaya and Varunya Wongteanchai in the last-eight stage.
In the singles match today, Sania served extremely well in the second set and put behind an early break to stage a brilliant comeback.
She saved a crucial breakpoint in the 11th game and then broke Keothavong for the second time to claim a well-deserved win.
Sania will now face either Japanese Kimik Date-Krumm or Chinese Taipei qualifier Su-Wei Hsieh in the quarterfinals.
PTI