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Line call turning point of match: Sania's coach

Farrington said Sania could have had a different story to tell if only a crucial line call had gone in her favour.

Published on: Sep 6, 2005, 19:33:00 IST
PTI | By , New York
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Sania Mirza's travelling coach John Farrington on Tuesday said the Indian teenager could have had a different story to tell if only a crucial line call had gone in her favour in the women's singles fourth round match against Maria Sharapova at the US Open.

HT Image
HT Image

Sania had a triple breakpoint on Sharapova's serve with the Russian top seed up 4-2 in the seventh game of the first set.

The 2004 Wimbledon champion, after netting her first serve, came up with a bullet speed centre serve that seemed to clip outside of the service area but the linesman ruled it in.

Instead of a doublefault, it turned out to be an ace and the point to Sharapova.

Farrington rued the bad luck saying that had the point gone to Sania, the 18-year-old would have got back the crucial break she was looking for and from there on anything could have happened.

"Was it the turning point? I can't say but Sania was swinging big and Sharapova was a little edgy at that moment. Had that point and game gone to Sania, Maria could have gotten tight," said the 47-year-old from Bahamas.

"Sania had nothing to lose, pressure was on Maria was to come up with the shots. Anything could have happened," he added.

It was the fourth time Sania was playing a top-10 player in her first full-fledged season on the women's circuit. The first was at the Australian Open where as a wild card she took on Serena Williams in the third round.

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