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Ace Indian tennis star Sania Mirza made a winning return to the WTA circuit as she reached the doubles quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open with her Slovenian partner Andreja Klepac on Monday. The pair defeated Nadiia Kichenok and Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraine 6-4 6-7 (5) 10-5 in the opening round of the tournament. The win marks the return of Sania after an year due to the COVID-19 enforced lockdown.
Sania last played at the Doha Open in February 2019 before the pandemic halted almost all sporting activities around the globe. The 34-year-old had herself tested COVID-19 positive and made her recovery earlier this year.
The Ukranian pair was leading in both sets but Sania, Klepac prevailed
In her first match since then, Sania and Klepac found themselves 0-3 down and were even struggling at deuce in the fourth game. However, that didn't dampen their sprit and they held on. The pair then got one break back on serve in the seventh game, breaking them at love and later going to bag the set. The Ukranian pair again got an early break in the second set to lead 3-1 but Sania and partner got back into the match to take the super tie-breaker and eventually take the game on their side.
Sania Mirza and A Klepac will see the winner of L. Hradecka & K. Pliskova vs A. Blinkova & G. Dabrowski in the quaterfinals of the Qatar Open.