A profligate Somdev Devvarman squandered chances galore and crashed out of the US Open singles, even as Sania Mirza advanced in the women's doubles and mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows, as Indians came out triumphant in all but one of their outings.
Sania and her Italian partner Francesca Schiavone, seeded 14th, survived a scare from unseeded Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus and Czech Renata Voracova before recording a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 win to advance to the women's doubles second round.
Later Sania, teaming with Candian Daniel Nestor, outplayed Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan and Ashley Fisher of Australia 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the mixed doubles.
Defending champions Leander Paes and Cara Black of Zimbabwe overcame a fighting unseeded pair of Swiss Patty Schnyder and South Africa's Wesley Moodie.
The second seeded Indo-Zimbawean pair tamed the unseeded opponents 6-4, 3-6, 11-9 in the first round of the mixed doubles.
Third seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles cruised to the men's doubles second round after scoring a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over American James Cerretani and Lovro Zovko of Croatia.
Meanwhile Somdev, who was trailing by two sets, staged a dramatic comeback by blanking 23rd seed German Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third set but eventually lost his second round encounter 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 2-6 after a close to three-hour battle.
With Somdev's defeat, the Indian challenge ended in the singles events.
Sania is already out of singles after suffering one of the worst defeats of her career in the second round against Italian friend Flavia Pennetta.
Photograph: Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia
