Serve does Sania in against Radwanska, Clijsters stunned

Sania Mirza made the perfect start to her second round match against higher-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska, breaking her 12th seeded Polish opponent at love in the very first game, but a string of double faults and unforced errors saw her eventually bow out in straight sets. The Indian lost 2-6, 4-6 in 76 minutes. Meanwhile, former world number one and second seed Kim Clijsters became the biggest casualty on Day Five at the Open when she was stunned 6-3, 5-7, 1-6 by Dutch Arantxa Rus. It was the Belgian’s worst Grand Slam defeat in nine years and earliest exit at a Major since a second round loss in Paris in 2002. The US and Australian Open champion Clijsters, playing in Paris for the first time in five years, had been cruising at one stage, leading by a set and 5-2 against the World No. 114. The 27-year-old Belgian suffered an astonishing collapse, squandering two match points in the eighth and 10th games of the second set against an opponent who had never before got beyond the second round at a Grand Slam. Clijsters committed a total of 65 unforced errors and 10 double faults before Rus unleashed a giant forehand to wrap up her biggest career win after two hours of action. Serve lets Sania down [caption id=“attachment_16159” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Sania Mirza bowed out in the second round. Thierry Roge/Reuters”] [/caption] After the early break in the opening set, Sania failed to consolidate her lead, courtesy two double faults. The Indian’s sloppy play allowed Radwanska to race away with the next five games. Down 1-5, the India pro showed some recovery signs, breaking her opponent’s serve for the second time as Radwanska tried to close the set. Sania, however, was broken back immediately, handing Radwanska a one set lead. A total of 20 unforced errors and five double faults only added to Sania’s woes. The Hyderabadi started the second set in much the same fashion breaking Radwanska’s serve and held her own to go 2-0 up. However, the higher-ranked Radwanska levelled proceedings at 2-all. At 4-all, Radwanska held serve and that put pressure on Sania as she served to stay in the match. The higher-ranked Radwanska broke Sania again to move into the third round. It was Sania’s serve which let her down on Thursday. Her first serve winning percentage read a dismal 49% and nine double faults off her racquet compared to none from her opponent only made matters worse for her. With Sania’s defeat, the Indian challenge in the women’s singles ended. The Hyderabadi, however, will be back on court later today, teaming up with Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles event. Sharapova survives scare Former world number one Maria Sharapova battled back from a torrid start against French teenager Caroline Garcia to book her place in the third round with a 3-6 6-4 6-0 victory on Thursday. Sharapova’s play was littered with errors as she trailed 6-3 4-1 but 17-year-old Garcia collapsed as the Russian seventh seed eventually upped the tempo and hit her stride. Three-times grand slam champion Sharapova, looking for her first title on the Paris clay, had too much experience in the end for the world number 188 who was playing only her fourth match on the main tour. The court Philippe Chatrier crowd, sniffing an upset, turned up the volume midway through the second set, but Sharapova romped through the last 11 games. Tough run for Nadal Rafael Nadal enjoyed a smoother ride after his opening match malaise with a 7-5 6-3 7-6 win over fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar in the second round. The world number one was given a severe fright on Tuesday when taken to five sets for the first time at Roland Garros by big-serving American John Isner. Doubts still lingered about his form on Thursday in the heavy and blustery Paris air but the champion’s battling qualities could never be questioned after saving seven set points in the third against a tricky opponent. The top seed, bidding for his sixth title in seven years here, broke for 4-2 in the first set and and came back from 0-40 down at 5-3 in the second.