China Open | Sania-Strycova crash out in second round

Sania Mirza came into the China Open hoping to defend her title she had won with Martina Hingis last year. The World No.1 also would have hoped to reverse the losing streak she and partner Barbora Strycova have had since that win in the Cincinnati Open in August, interestingly against Martina Hingis. The Indian has since lost in events including the US Open with the latest defeat coming in the final of the Wuhan Open last week. The duo have had only the Pan-Pacific Open to show apart from that win in the maiden event.

Having received a bye in the first round, Mirza and Strycova looked set for the next round when they won the first set. The pair took it 6-4 with some splendid return on their opponent's serves, but the warning signs were there – they managed only a 60% first serve.

Although they improved on their serve in the second, their return game deserted them as the duo struggled to a 1-6 loss in the set. Dabrowski and Sanchez won four of the five break points they received to win the set and enforce the super tie-breaker.

When it mattered the most, the Indo-Czech pair failed to deliver. The pair committed two double faults even as their opponents upped their game with an 85% service ratio to lose the tie-break 4-10.