Sania shines bright

SANIA Mirza has enhanced her growing reputation as one of Asia's brightest
tennis hopes with a crushing defeat of Czech teenager Lucie Safarova at the
Hopman Cup today.

Mirza destroyed her more illustrious opponent in 54 minutes, galloping to a
6-2 6-2 win.

The Indian's scintillating returns were great to watch and too good for the
world No.42, who will want to forget her Hopman Cup debut.

Mirza said her recent good form at the Asian Games had put her in a good
frame of mind for this week, and the Australian Open to follow.

"I felt great, I was hitting the ball pretty well and I hit the right shots
at the right time," Mirza said.

"My confidence levels are pretty high, and this tournament is going to help
me get better for the Australian Open.

"It is a great honour personally to represent my country and to be here.

"We are going to give whatever we have and, as far as the country is
concerned, of course they are very excited that we can make it."

Mirza arrived in Perth in good heart having won the singles silver medal and
the mixed doubles gold at the Asian Games in Qatar recently, and she found
her groundstroke rhythm immediately against Safarova.

The 21-year-old player from Hyderabad in southern India, already an icon for
vast numbers of young women in her homeland, would only have increased her
fan base with some brilliant return winners, which at times left Safarova
groping at thin air.

The Czech won just 37 per cent of the points on her first serve - and she
lost five successive service breaks.

Mirza didn't let up after powering through the first set in 23 minutes, her
only blip a break when serving for the match at 5-1.

But she did not take long to atone, a forehand down the line - Mirza's 18th
clean winner of the match - breaking Safarova for a sixth time to secure the
win