Agencies

New Delhi, May 16: Sania Mirza made a triumphant return to tennis courts, winning her first round doubles match with American Vania King in $ 145,000 Morocco Open at Fes.

The Indo-US pair came back from being 4-7 in the super tie-break to win 6-3 5-7 10-8 against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia and Olga Savchuk of Ukraine on Tuesday. It was the 20-year-old’s first competitive match in nearly 2-1/2 months as she was out of action due to a ligament injury.

“It’s always good to win a match when you’re coming back after so long, especially a close one,” Sania said after the match. Sania, who played with Liezel Huber of South Africa most of last season, said she combined well with Vania.

“I think it’s a good thing we got the toughest unseeded team first. We played well together for our very first time as a team. There were a few hiccups, but at the end of the day it’s good to come through.”

Sania said her knee “was holding up very well”. The Hyderabadi girl said she felt a mix of excitement and nerves in her first match after a long break. “While I was playing today, I was thinking about how much I’ve missed the feeling of competing,” she said.

“At 9-8 in the tie-break it was my serve, and I just remembered how it felt to be on the court at tense moments like that with all the nerves, and I am just so happy I’m back. I’ve missed the joy of winning, the joy of screaming ‘come on’ after winning a point.” Sania is the top seed in the singles and faces Emelia Ma Salerni of Argentina, a qualifier, in the first round.

“Playing her (Emelia) will be tough because she has been playing well the last few months and she has also gotten three qualifying matches under her belt,” Sania said.  She and Vania had to wait long Tuesday for their match as the second match on court stretched and then bad light forced their match to be shifted to Centre Court.

“But, I have to worry about myself first. I want to go out there and have fun,” she said. “And although I don’t really mind, it’s probably better I’m on last and not first. “I don’t like playing first because it’s usually pretty early, but I’ll still do it. But all of the other times are better for me. I’m more used to playing in the afternoon!”