Two in row for Indian netter

Indian Sania Mirza rallied in the third set to beat Uzbek Akgul Amanmuradova, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, yesterday for a sweep of the two-leg Union Cement-ITF Philippines Women’s Circuit at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

It was the third straight title for the 16-year-old native of Hyderabad in also her third tournament as a pro. She competed in the Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open Juniors this year.

"I didn’t expect to win two titles here in Manila. It’s a great two weeks for me," said the world’s No. 836 Mirza, who made it 3-0 against Amanmuradova.

Mirza defeated Amanmuradova, 6-1, 6-2, in the finals of the $10,000 Hyderabad event in September. She beat the Uzbek, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round of the Asian Tennis Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last month.

"It was a tough match as we both expected. She hit the ball deep especially in the second set and I did not maintain my game. But I was able to get back in the third set," said Mirza, who is currently training under CGK Bhupathi, the father of 2002 US Open doubles champion Mahesh.

Mirza, who debuted in the Busan Asian Games where she won the mixed doubles bronze medal with Leander Paes, broke Amanmuradova in the fourth game to tie the count at 2-2 before the rains fell.

The 6-foot-2 Uzbek who played in the Federation Cup last March capitalized on the brief interruption to break the Indian in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead.

But Mirza, who won the first leg with an elbow injury, forced Amanmuradova to commit mistakes and won the next four games to wrap up the match in one hour, 40 minutes.

Amanmuradova, the No. 3 player in Uzbekistan, was satisfied with the way she played.

"I think I played well today. I never expected to be in the finals but I made it. I know that I did my best out there," said the 18-year-old Amanmuradova, playing in her fourth tournament as a pro.

"Mirza is a very good player and it will be hard to beat her. Who knows, we might meet again?" said the Tashkent-born Amanmuradova.

who reach the finals after eliminating No. 5 Austrian Elisabeth Bahn, 6-4, 6-1, in the second round and No. 2 Japanese Kumiko Iljima, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals.

Both Mirza and Amanmuradova will fly back to India tomorrow to compete in the $25,000 event in Bombay to be followed by a $10,000 event in Pune.

Meanwhile, Mirza and compatriot Radhika won the doubles title over third seeds Dong Yan-Hua and Zhang Yao of China, 6-4, 6-3, last Saturday in this event supported by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund, Wilson balls, Manila Midtown Hotel and Philippine Sports Commission.