Sania cruises to second round in Birmingham

Birmingham, June 12 (UNI) Sania Mirza cruised into second round with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Maria Elena Camerin of Italy in the DFS Classic tennis tournament here today.

Unseeded Sania put in a businesslike performance in her first round match, defeating world No. 66 Camerin despite a slow start that saw her go down an early break in the first set to trail 1-3.

But, the 20-year-old Hyderabadi came back strongly to shunt out the Italian in a one-hour 28-minute contest in the 200,000 dollar wta Tier III grass court event.

''You have to expect that, coming off clay and playing on a new surface,'' said the world No.42 Sania after the match.

''It was my first match and it wasn't one of the easier matches I could have got in the first round. She's a seasoned player. I knew she was going to be tough and there's always a little anxiety when you go on the court on a new surface for the first time.

Sania said she was feeling no ill effects from the knee injury that has impaired her play for the past three months.

''I think that's one of the reasons I was a little tight in the start of the match -- thinking about my knee slightly.

''It's hard after three-and-a-half months playing without tape and psychologically you don't have the confidence to know how your knee is going to handle it and whether you'll injure it again. Touch wood, I finished the whole match and I don't feel anything in my knee. It feels like: what knee?'' Sania now faces eighth seed and French Open doubles winner Mara Santangelo of Italy in the second round.

UNI