Sania Mirza tamed world number 51 Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2 2-6 6-2 to advance to the second round of the ladies singles event of the Wimbledon championships in London. Sania will next face the winner of an all Romanina match between Edina Gallovits and Sorana Cirster.

With this win, Sania, ranked 78, has now taken a 3-0 lead over Germany’s Groenfeld, whom she beat in 2004 and 2005. After taking the first set comfortably Sania faced some fire in the second set as the German put up a detrermined fight, not throwing in the towel.

Sania had her chances right from the start but Groenfeld did not let the Indian cash in on those. Sania earned three breakpoints in the first game by hitting some good winners but the German hung on. Groenefeld then broke Sania in the next game, using drop shots very effectively and held her own to take a 3-0 lead.

Sensing danger, Sania then stepped on the gas and broke back Groenfeld but only to drop her own serve in the sixth game to squander the opportunity to draw parity. The Indian then saved two set points in the eighth game but unforced errors dented her chances and she eventually lost the set.

The Indian, however, made a brillaint start to the do-or-die third set by breaking her rival in the very first game and won four of the first five games to take a 4-1 lead. The next three games went with serve and the Indian wrapped up the set and match in style.