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Sania-Hradecka beaten in Dubai semi-finals

February 19, 2022 12:04 IST

Lydudmyla Kichenok and Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko shake hands with the Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka and India's Sania Mirza after the women's doubles semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Championships, at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, on Friday.

IMAGE: Lydudmyla Kichenok and Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko shake hands with the Czech Republic's Lucie Hradecka and India's Sania Mirza after their women's doubles semi-final in the Dubai Duty Free Championships, at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, on Friday. Photograph: Francois Nel/Getty Images

Trailblazing Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Lucie Hradecka went down fighting in the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Friday.

After dominating the first set, Sania and Hradecka lost 6-2, 2-6, 7-10 to Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok and Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko.

The Indo-Czech duo, which had received a wild card for the tournament, saved 11 break-points while converting two of the three in the first set to win the first set.

However, the two were unable to maintain the momentum as Kichenok and Ostapenko levelled the scoreline and then eventually sealed the match.

The veteran Indian had won the doubles title in Dubai in 2013, partnering USA's Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The 35-year-old, India's most accomplished woman tennis player, having won six Grand Slam titles, including three mixed doubles trophies, had earlier announced that 2022 would be her last season.