• WTA Tour

O'Brien dumped out of the Landsky Lighting Open

ESPN staff
September 14, 2010
Katie O'Brien fought gamely but her serve let her down badly against Sania Mirza © Getty Images
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Britain's Katie O'Brien crashed out of the Landsky Lighting Open in China after losing in three sets to Sania Mirza of India.

O'Brien, the current British No. 2, struggled with her serve early on and was broken three times in the opening set as she handed Mirza the initiative.

But the 24-year-old rallied in the second set, converting half of her six break point opportunities - while saving three against her - to storm back into the match.

Unfortunately, in the decider, O'Brien's service one again capitulated, allowing Mirza to take full advantage and break with ease. O'Brien, the world No. 131, only won nine of the 24 points on her own serve and this inconsistency was the main reason she went down 6-3 1-6 6-2.

Meanwhile, at the Bell Challenge tournament in Quebec, second seed Aravane Rezai crashed out at the hands of America's Jill Craybas.

A single break of serve in each of the first two sets was enough to give both women a set each, with the deciding set going to a tiebreak. Craybas held her nerve, winning it comfortably, to seal a 6-3 3-6 7-6(3) victory.

Fifth seed Melanie Oudin made a successful return to action in her first tournament after going out of the US Open in the second round, seeing off Alison Riske 6-2 7-6(3).

With her serve far improved from when she lost at Flushing Meadows to Alona Bondarenko, Oudin earned the right to attack her opponent's serve and thoroughly deserved to progress to the next round.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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