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Rediff.com  » Sports » Sania qualifies for Acura Classic

Sania qualifies for Acura Classic

Last updated on: August 01, 2005 17:53 IST
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Sania Mirza beat Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko in straight sets to advance to the main draw of the Acura Classic at the La Costa Resort in San Diego.

Mirza, who beat Bondarenko 6-4, 7-6 (2), jumped to a career-high ranking of 59 following the victory.

In her first round qualifying match of the Tier One event, Sania had beaten 134th-ranked Galina Voskoboeva of Russia 6-1, 6-1.

The other players who have qualified for the main draw are: Tathiana Garbin (Italy), Alina Jidkova (Russia), Aiko Nakamura (Japan), Saori Obata (Japan), Anastassia Rodionova (Russia), Maria Emilia Salerni (Argentina) and Hana Sromova (Czech Republic).

Earlier, top seed Lindsay Davenport withdrew from the event, starting on Monday, because of a recurring back injury.

She joins a long list of leading players who have pulled out of the tournament, including second-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and former world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Wimbledon champion Venus Williams also turned down a wild card to play in the event, saying she was physically and mentally incapable of playing six consecutive weeks.

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