Sania shuts out Schnyder

World No. 17 and last year’s finalist Schnyder got off the blocks in a flash and raced to a commanding 5-2 lead before Sania came back hitting some powerful strokes and pushed the set to a tie-break which she pocketed 7-2.

Cheered on by a big crowd, Sania was in her element in the second set and disposed of Schnyder 6-1. “Experience and maturity are two things that I have gained over the past two years and it helped out tonight,” said Sania, who reached the semi-finals at Cincinnati last week.

“When I am on the court, the crowd does get me going. This crowd is always cheering and there is always a positive vibe. But at the end of the day, you are the player and you are down 2-5, so you have to get it done,” Sania said.

Sania, however, said beating two players ranked in top-20 does not mean that she is going to take her semi-final opponent Sybille, whom she has never played before, lightly. “Just because I was able to beat Golovin and Schnyder does not mean the road gets any easier tomorrow. Sybille is a great player and she is in the semi-finals so she has been doing things right too.

“She (Sybille) has also been to a final this year. The only advantage maybe is that I played a left-hander today and now I will be playing another left-hander tomorrow,” said the world No 35.

“I probably hit 90 per cent backhands today and I’m happy the way I converted my weakness into a strength,” Mirza said.