Sania, Strycova find joy in Tokyo

Tokyo, September 24

India’s Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova posted a comfortable straight-sets win over the unseeded Chinese pair of Chen Liang and Zhaoxuan Yang to win the Toray Pan Pacific Open title on Saturday.

The second seeded Indo-Czech combination had an easy outing against the Chinese duo as they took just 51 minutes to down their rivals 6-1 6-1 in the final of the women’s doubles event.

Sania had won the tournament in 2013 and 2014 with Cara Black. The 29-year-old had given the tournament in Tokyo a miss last year. The Indo-Czech pair took just 26 minutes to clinch the first set 6-1 after speeding to a 5-0 lead. After both pairs held serve for 1-1 in the second set, the second seeds’ serve came under a little pressure. However, Sania and Barbora won their service game and then took the next five games to win the set 6-1.

Wozniacki stuns Radwanska

Caroline Wozniacki produced a spirited fightback to beat fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 4-6 7-5 6-4 and reach the final of the women’s singles. The Dane will face Japan's Naomi Osaka in Sunday's final as she goes in search of a 24th career title.

Wozniacki, who struck back from 3-1 down in the second and third sets, ended Radwanska's resistance on her fourth match point, forcing the Pole into a loose forehand, which she dumped tamely into the net after almost three hours on court. 

Wawrinka in semis

St. Petersburg: US Open champion Stan Wawrinka and Czech Tomas Berdych both cruised into the Saint Petersburg Open semifinals on Friday. Top seed Wawrinka beat Serb Viktor Troicki 7-5, 6-2 while third seed Berdych, currently ninth in the race to the London ATP Finals, beat Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 6-4, 6-3. — Agencies