The third seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova failed to reach the final of the Dubai Open after losing 6-4, 6-3 to the Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in last-four clash on Friday.
The Russians dominated the game, winning the first set with relative ease. The same story followed in the second with Mirza and Strycova slumping to a 0-5 deficit. However, they rallied to win three games on the trot to stretch their opponents.
Makarova and Vesina wrested back the momentum soon enough to seal a straight-sets win and secure safe passage to the final.
They now await the winners of the other semifinal match to be played between Hao-Ching Chan-Yaroslava Shvedova and Andrea Hlavackova-Shuai Peng.
This was the Indo-Czech pair’s second straight loss in the semi-final this year. Last week, they had exited the Qatar Open at the same stage.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!