PATTAYA  - Sania Mirza’s singles campaign at the Pattaya Open ended with a 5-7, 3-6 quarterfinal defeat against Chinese Taipei qualifier Su-Wei Hsieh but the Indian has kept herself in the doubles title contention by making the semi-finals on Friday.
The 111-ranked Indian lost to the talented Taipei player after battling for one hour and 20 minutes. However, in the doubles, Sania and her Australian partner Anastasia Rodionova continued the good show by reaching the semi-finals.  The top seeded pair defeated the local pair of Varatchaya and Varunya Wongteanchai 6-4, 6-3 in the last-eight stage match. They now face third seeds Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan and Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan.
Meanwhile, Sorana Cirstea reached the semi-finals of the Pattaya Open when top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia retired Friday with left hip injury in the third set.
The match was even at 2-6, 6-4, 2-2 when Zvonareva pulled out and sent Cirstea into the next round. Cirstea, a 21-year-old Romanian who is seeded seventh, will next face either Maria Kirilenko of Russia or Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.
Also, Taiwanese qualifier Hsieh Su-wei beat Sania Mirza of India 7-5, 6-3.