Wednesday, June 14 2006 14:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Birmingham: Sania Mirza relived the best day of her career so far when she overcame Alona Bondarenko 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach the second round of the WTA DFS Classic here.

Mirza beat the 21-year-old Ukrainian in the final of her home city tournament in Hyderabad last year to become the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour title.

This time Mirza again won in three sets, though there were moments, particularly when she slipped to a 1-3 deficit in the final set, when it seemed she was going to fall short. But she regained focus and counter-attacked boldly for a satisfactory start to her grass-court buildup to Wimbledon.

"I lost a bit of concentration and she came up with some good shots," admitted Mirza yesterday. I am happy just to have won it," she said.

"I have been practising on the grass for the last three days, so I am getting used to it," she said.

"After what happened last season (a great match with Svetlana Kuznetsova at) I think everyone back home will be looking forward to this season," added the 19-year-old 14th seed," she said.

Mirza might have won more easily. She played an excellent first set, striking the ball hard.

But she wasted a great chance to take Bondarenko's opening service game in the second set, hitting a service return into the net from a second delivery at 30-40.

She then slipped awkwardly at 30-30 on her own serve two games later, losing the point and performing three sets of leg exercises before resuming.



At the break point, Bondarenko unleashed a winning volley, taking her to 3-1 and visibly raising her confidence.

Bondarenko improved the rhythm of her ground strokes,clinging to her advantage throughout the second set and advancing to 3-1 in the final set, despite a heavy fall.

But then the Indian, betraying signs of irritation and bouncing her racket in frustration, launched an all-out attack to win the last five games and the match.

Mirza faces American Shenay Perry, the world number 92, for a shot at a quarter-final place in a section without third seed Daniela Hantuchova, who withdrew with a wrist injury on Monday.

On a rain-affected day only three other matches were completed. American Bethanie Mattek beat Julia Schruff of Germany 6-4 6-7 6-1; China's Peng Shuai defeated Australian Nicole Pratt 2-6 7-5 6-4, while Slovakia's Jarmila Gajdosova overcame another Chinese player in Yuan Meng 6-3 6-4.

Two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova endured a frustrating day. The 2004 Wimbledon singles winner never got on court to start a second round match, the 19-year-old Russian's first of this year's tournament, against American qualifier Ahsha Rolle.