Fairy-tale run ends for Mirza

Fairy-tale run ends for Mirza

Sania Mirza arrived at the Australian Open last week with little fanfare and modest ambitions. On Friday, she left as a star in her homeland and with the praise of Serena Williams.

Mirza, capitalizing on a wild-card entry, became the first Indian woman to make the third round of a Grand Slam tournament when she beat Hungarian Petra Mandula on Wednesday.

That win earned her a shot at six-time Grand Slam winner Williams, who, as expected, won Friday's third-round matchup 6-1, 6-4. But Williams came away impressed by what she had seen from the 18-year-old Mirza, who lives in Hyderabad.

"She has a very solid game, especially to be so young, she's only 18," Williams said of Mirza, ranked 166. "I definitely see a very bright future for her."

As the pair shook hands at the net after the match, Williams spent some time talking to Mirza.

"I told her to keep up the good work because it was good to see someone from India for the first time do so well ... I told her to keep fighting," said Williams.

Mirza overcame a nervous start to produce a stronger display in the second set.

"I've had butterflies in my stomach for the last two days and last night I couldn't sleep properly," Mirza said.

Mirza's parents have been on the annual haj pilgrimage to Mecca but have kept up with their daughter's performances by mobile telephone.

"I spoke to them a little while ago. They haven't been able to watch my matches but we've kept in touch," she said.

-- AP