Mumbai Open: Lisicki falters on comeback

Sabine Lisicki, the 2103 Wimbledon runner-up and former World No. 12, now on a comeback trail, found the going too tough against eighth seed Nao Hibino of Japan, losing in three sets in a first round match of the L&T Mumbai Open WTA $125K Series, organized by MSLTA and CCI at the CCI courts, here, on Tuesday.

The German, currently ranked No. 220, could not ride the momentum of a first set advantage and went on to lose 6-3, 3-6, 4-6 to Hibino, who is ranked 123.

Sabine began proceedings in confident style, breaking her opponent at 3-3 and then at 5-3 to wrap up the first set. However, the diminutive 23year-old Japanese, ranked 123, was not ready to give up yet and after games had gone with serve, she broke Lisicki for a 5-3 lead.

Nao survived some anxious moments and also staved off two break points herself before winning the second set 64 to take the tie into the decider, where she got the crucial break in the 7th game for a 4-3 lead and then held serves to win it 6-4. “I played her in Taipei earlier this year when she came back from Injury and i was not aggresive then but this time i was prepared and attacked her from the start,” Said Hibino in a post match interview.

There were no such woes for second seed and last year’s runner-up Dalila Jakupovic of Slovania, who got past Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1.

Indian players will see action on Wednesday, with Karman Thandi taking on top seed Zheng Saisai at the centre court at 4pm. Ankita Raina is expected to come on to centre court around 8.30pm when she faces Rutuja Bhosle.