Sania goes down fighting

Promising youngster Sania Mirza went down fighting to third seed Babos Susazne of Hungary in the third round of the 13th Mitsubishi Lancer junior tennis tournament in Manila on Thursday.

The 38th-ranked Indian, who had beaten Alexander McGoodwin in the first round, lost 6-4, 2-6, 6-7 (7-3).

Fifteen-year-old Sania, sponsored by G V K Group of Industries of Hyderabad, played brilliantly in the first set and won 6-4. But the 17-year-old Babos, ranked 23, pulled up her socks and came up with some superb stroke play to take the second set 6-2.

In the decider, Sania displayed her fighting instincts and raised her game considerably. She was down 3-4 but fought back to break her opponent and move on to a 5-4 lead. Babos levelled at 5-5 but again Sania went up 6-5. The Hyderabad girl was unable to win the next game, allowing the set to go into the tie-breaker, where Babos proved too good.