Home run

At times she was merely good, at others erratic. But the important thing is, she retained her composure and confidence throughout and simply seemed to want the title more.

The first set seemed a formality after both held, broke and held the first six games. The second was disastrous, and Sania admitted that her left ankle hurt on landing after service. Down 3-2, on serve, Sania lost the next on love, including two double-faults. Her first serve lacked sting.

Alyona then took the score beyond Sania8217;s reach and worked up a 5-2 advantage. Like in her earlier matches, Sania was haunted by the fact that she choked on serve. Not once, but time and again she reached game point before holding.

The eighth game saw the crowds hushed, for the first time. Things weren8217;t going to script.

Breaking the ninth brought them crowds back on their feet, but a 12th game break that included Sania saving break-point once before goofing up three game points did her in.

Alyona was growing in confidence. Her reach, particularly on the backhand, was amazing; the more Sania tried the more she came up with brilliant returns. No arguments over her winning Set 2.

The third set defined Sania8217;s coming of age. Sensing her opponent had adapted to the fast-paced game, she slowed things down and attacked Alyona8217;s forehand.

Beginning with a break in the first, Sania cruised to a 5-1 advantage before Alyona halted the run in the seventh.

There was a moment of farce, when, with three match-points, she served what appeared to be an ace. The perfect ending, the crowd went ballistic, Sania got down on her knees and all hell broke loose. In the din no one heard the umpire8217;s 8216;8216;wide8217;8217; call.

That unnerved Sania, but only for a few moments. This was her day, she wasn8217;t going to let farce change the script. A punched forehand on Alyona8217;s serve and Indian tennis history was made.