<p>It is Sania’s first WTA Tour quarterfinal since San Diego in August 2007. The Indian, who came through the qualifiers, now plays 11th-seeded Chinese Shua Peng, who defeated seventh seed Russian Nadia Petrova 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.<br /><br />In their only meeting before Thursday, Sania was beaten by the German over three sets in Auckland in the run-up to the Australian Open in January. <br /><br />Lisicki came into the match against Sania after stunning World No 12 and fourth-seeded Marion Bartoli in the pre-quarterfinals.<br /><br />“We played once before, in Auckland just before the Australian Open, and I lost 7-6 in the third. So, I knew it was going to be a tough match. Obviously, Sabine was coming in after beating Bartoli, and I had a tough match also,” Sania said.<br /><br />“My body is pretty tired. I’ve been playing since Saturday every day, having to come through qualies and playing doubles as well, so I haven’t really had a day off. I’ve had a few niggles in my body now, but I’m happy to come through a match like that, where I think I could have played better. It’s always good to come through your matches when you aren’t playing your best,” Sania added.<br /><br />Sania, who was once ranked World No 27, said she is close to being her best. “I would like to hope I am. I feel like I’m close to my best now. I was Top 30 two years ago. With my wrist injury it has been a tough couple of years and I’m just happy to be healthy again. I couldn’t even hold a fork last year for five months. And to be back playing tennis, it’s like a new life — to be winning is a bonus.”<br /><br />Somdev crashes out<br /><br />India’s Somdev Devvarman failed to reach the quarterfinal of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship after losing to third-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 4-6, 1-6.<br />Having had a good run in the hardcourt events at Indian Wells and Miami, Somdev registered a solid opening round victory over American Robert Kendrick but the clay-court specialist Garcia-Lopez proved too strong for him.<br /><br />The third-seeded and world number 26 Garcia-Lopez, who got a bye in his first round overcame five double-faults before getting the better of the Indian in one hour and 27 minutes and book a berth in the last eight stage.<br /><br />The Spaniard started on a positive note, breaking Somdev’s serve in the fourth game to lead the first set 4-1. Somdev, though broke back immediately but eventually lost control in the tenth game and gave away the set 4-6.<br /><br />The second set turned out to be a lop-sided affair as Garcia-Lopez stole a series of games to set up a quarterfinal clash with Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.</p>
<p>It is Sania’s first WTA Tour quarterfinal since San Diego in August 2007. The Indian, who came through the qualifiers, now plays 11th-seeded Chinese Shua Peng, who defeated seventh seed Russian Nadia Petrova 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.<br /><br />In their only meeting before Thursday, Sania was beaten by the German over three sets in Auckland in the run-up to the Australian Open in January. <br /><br />Lisicki came into the match against Sania after stunning World No 12 and fourth-seeded Marion Bartoli in the pre-quarterfinals.<br /><br />“We played once before, in Auckland just before the Australian Open, and I lost 7-6 in the third. So, I knew it was going to be a tough match. Obviously, Sabine was coming in after beating Bartoli, and I had a tough match also,” Sania said.<br /><br />“My body is pretty tired. I’ve been playing since Saturday every day, having to come through qualies and playing doubles as well, so I haven’t really had a day off. I’ve had a few niggles in my body now, but I’m happy to come through a match like that, where I think I could have played better. It’s always good to come through your matches when you aren’t playing your best,” Sania added.<br /><br />Sania, who was once ranked World No 27, said she is close to being her best. “I would like to hope I am. I feel like I’m close to my best now. I was Top 30 two years ago. With my wrist injury it has been a tough couple of years and I’m just happy to be healthy again. I couldn’t even hold a fork last year for five months. And to be back playing tennis, it’s like a new life — to be winning is a bonus.”<br /><br />Somdev crashes out<br /><br />India’s Somdev Devvarman failed to reach the quarterfinal of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship after losing to third-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 4-6, 1-6.<br />Having had a good run in the hardcourt events at Indian Wells and Miami, Somdev registered a solid opening round victory over American Robert Kendrick but the clay-court specialist Garcia-Lopez proved too strong for him.<br /><br />The third-seeded and world number 26 Garcia-Lopez, who got a bye in his first round overcame five double-faults before getting the better of the Indian in one hour and 27 minutes and book a berth in the last eight stage.<br /><br />The Spaniard started on a positive note, breaking Somdev’s serve in the fourth game to lead the first set 4-1. Somdev, though broke back immediately but eventually lost control in the tenth game and gave away the set 4-6.<br /><br />The second set turned out to be a lop-sided affair as Garcia-Lopez stole a series of games to set up a quarterfinal clash with Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.</p>
