INDIA’S Sania Mirza was knocked out of Wimbledon on Tuesday (June 21), losing 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3 in the first round to grieving Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, recently bereaved by the death of her fiance.
Playing with her left knee taped up, Mirza, 24, gave Razzano a close run on a breezy Court 9 at the All England Club, where she enjoyed plenty of Indian support.
In the first set, Mirza broke twice for a 3-0 lead but Razzano broke back immediately and took the next game to love as the Indian played herself into trouble with unforced errors.
Mirza, the world number 60, served for the set a 5-4 up but yelled in fury as two attempted drop shots went wrong and Razzano broke, before going on to take the tie break.
In the second set, again Mirza took an early lead and this time held it, breaking again to take the second set 6-2.
The deciding set went with serve until Razzano broke for 4-3 then held serve before breaking her opponent to take the match.
Mirza may have better luck in the women’s doubles, where she and Russia’s Elena Vesnina are seeded fourth.
French number six Razzano now faces either Danish world number one Caroline Wozniacki or Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja in the second round.
Razzano, the world number 96, played through the French Open wearing a black ribbon in memory of her fiance and coach Stephane Vidal, who died from a brain tumour in May.
