Sania clears first hurdle at Miami qualifiers

Sania Mirza inched closer to the main draw of the WTA Premier event in Miami with a straight set thrashing of China's Xinyun Han.

The 19th seed Indian beat her unseeded opponent 7-5, 6-0 in the first round of the singles qualifying event.

She will next take on eighth seed and world number 89 Renata Voracova of Czech Republic in the second and final round.

Meanwhile, in the ATP Masters event at the same venue, India's top singles player Somdev Devvarman has been drawn against World number 47 Potito Starace of Italy.

Somdev, pitted in the bootm half of the draw, can run into world number six David Ferrer of Spain in the third round.

Somdev became the first Indian to reach the fourth round of an ATP Masters event last week at Indian Wells, where he lost to world number one Rafael Nadal.