Sania in Cincinnati

Every summer Cincinnati plays host to the "Western and Southern Financial" Tennis tournamnet where top 50 players are invited to participate.This month they are hosting the ladies matches and in August will be the Men's tournament.

Sania won her first two games to enter the quarterfinals which was played yesterday.It being Friday 7PM start,the game was a big draw with local indians turning out in large numbers.I reached the stadium a bit early and saw her practicing on the center court with her hitting partner.When the match started the crowd support for her was remarkable and she didnt dissapoint by handsomely winning the first game against last years champ Patty Schnyder.

During the course of the match she hit some unbelivable winners and absolutely thundering serves(highest was 110 mph!)....however when you play top seeded players you cant afford to make too many mistakes and Sania made plenty.Couple of double faults and bad returns saw her lose the first set in the tie break.The game was interrupted twice by rain and when it resumed Sania seemed to fight back well in the second set only to make too many unforced errors resulting in gifting a match she could have won.In the end the crowd were treated to high class tennis.Sania has all the big shots but what see seems to lack is the big match experience. With little more focus and right training she definitely has the ability and the talent to break into the top 20.

As we were coming out I saw a little crowd waiting in front of the players lounge.Patty schnyder came out first and she was wonderfully gracious and charming with the crowd.Heck even I got an autograph on back of my visting card!!.Sania made the crowd wait a little bit more and was virtually mobbed when she came out.She looked a little dissapointed and understandably so.She signed the autographs without smiling.The crowd's behavior was dissapointing..nobody clapped and none said a word or two commending her performance.People were just too busy getting autographs...I also managed one...a raucous scrawl!!....

Here are some pics I took at the game: