Winning starts for Sania, Somdev

Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza scored identical and convincing straight-set victories over their respective higher-ranked opponents in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Thursday.

Updated on: Mar 24, 2011, 23:34:27 IST

Agencies | By HT Correspondent, Miami

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Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza scored identical and convincing straight-set victories over their respective higher-ranked opponents in the first round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Thursday. Ranked 73 on the ATP charts, Somdev downed world number 47 Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 6-4 in his opening round of the ATP Masters event.

Qualifier Sania, ranked 99, defeated Spanish world number 62 Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2, 6-4 in WTA premier event. Sania has a tough second round ahead as she is up against 24th seed Russian Maria Kirilenko. Somdev will clash with Canadian world number 34 Milos Raonic, seeded 31, in his second round and if he manages to get past him, he could have a match against world number six David Ferrer in the third round.

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