India’s Sania Mirza failed to get the measure of Russian teenager Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, losing 2-6, 4-6 in the second round of the US Open here Wednesday.
With Sania’s loss, India’s challenge in the singles is over, with Somdev Devvarman already crashing out of the first round against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the men’s event.
Sania was outplayed in the first set by the 20th-seeded Russian. She fought back in the second and was tied 4-4 before she dropped her serve.
Pavlyuchenkova showed nerves in closing the match and even faced a break point but recovered in time to convert her second match point. This is first time the Russian has entered the third round at Flushing Meadows.
Sania’s best performance here came in 2005 when she reached the fourth round. The 23-year old, now ranked a lowly 160 from a high of 27, came through three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw. It was the first time since 2005 the Indian had to play in a Grand Slam qualifying round.
Her recurring wrist injury sidelined her early in the year and she since has been struggling to strike form.
Sania had lost in the first round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.