Tuesday, June 7 2005 21:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Sania Mirza's preparations for Wimbledon tennis faced a set back when she bowed out of the DFS Classic tournament in Birmingham, England in the second round today (Jun 7, 2005) losing to third seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia Montenegro.

The 18-year-old Indian failed to avenge her loss to Jankovic, who had defeated her in the Dubai Open earlier this year, as she lost in straight sets 1-6 5-7 in one hour and nine minutes, according to information received in New Delhi.

Quite different from what the score line suggest, Sania had her chances in the first set but failed to convert as many as three break points while Jankovic broke her opponent's serve thrice in four chances that came her way.

After losing the first set, Sania came back strongly with two breaks and led 4-3 at one stage in the second set.

But the Hyderabad Open winner soon surrendered her advantage as Jankovic broke back to make it 4-4 and then threatened to take the match when she had four match points in the tenth game.

Sania survived the assault and made it 5-5 but Jankovic again hit back, forcing two more match points in the 12th game. Though the Indian saved one more match point while serving at 5-6, Jankovic settled the issue converting the next one.

Sania had yesterday crushed Claudine Schaul of Luxumbourg 6-2 6-0 in the first round of the Tier III grass court event, a tuneup to the Wimbledon beginning on June 20.

Sania, who was out of action for almost a month after the Dubai tournament, failed to make an impression in the clay court events including the French Open.