Sania advances in Vancouver ITF event

Targetting her second consecutive singles title, top seed Sania Mirza faced stiff resistance from American Mallory Cecil before snatching a hard earned win in the first round of the ITF women's tournament in Vancouver.

Targetting her second consecutive singles title, top seed Sania Mirza faced stiff resistance from American Mallory Cecil before snatching a hard earned win in the first round of the ITF women's tournament in Vancouver.

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Sania, edged past 410-ranked Mallory 6-4, 7-5 in her opening match of the $75,000 hard court event. Prakash Amritraj, however, crashed out in the second round, losing 4-6, 1-6 to Marcos Baghdatis.

Sania will next face American Laura Granville, who moved ahead after her Japanese opponent Aiko Nakamura opted out during the third set.