Sania faulters at final hurdle; back-to-back title goes abegging

Istanbul, May 25 (UNI) Sania Mirza's hope of winning back-to-back WTA doubles title came a cropper, as she and her new partner Chan Yung-Jan of Chinese Taipei surrendered tamely 1-6, 3-6 to Polish pair of Agnieszka Radwanska and Urszula Radwanska in the finals of the 200,000-dollar Istanbul Cup here today.

The top-seeded Indo-Taipei pair were no match for Radwanska sisters as they just managed to win one game in the first set.

However in the second set, Sania and Chan tried their level best to get back into rhythm, but it eventually proved futile as the Polish pair wrapped up the match 3-6 to clinch the title.

The Hyderabadi girl, who made a winning comeback into the courts after a two and a half month-long injury induced lay-off by lifting the doubles title at the Morocco Open last week partnering Vania King of US.

The 20-year-old teenis sensation will kick off her French Open campaign against Alberta Brianti of Italy against whom she only met once before in the WTA tour last year, where Sania had to face a heartbreaking loss.

UNI