Sania Mirza's lean patch continued as the Indian ace crashed out of the $4,500,000 Sony Ericsson Open after losing a gruelling first round match against world number 65 Mathilde Johansson of France.
Sania, a wild card entrant, won the first set but could not survive the battle of nerves and lost 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (8) against her rival. Also making a first round exit was India's teen sensation Yuki Bhambri, who put up a valiant fight against world number 73 Diego Junqueira of Argentina.
The 16-year-old Indian wild card showed a steely resolve as he kept his seasoned opponent in fight for one hour and 22 minutes before losing 4-6, 3-6. Sania had failed to move beyond the second round at Indian Wells last week.
The Indian ace, world number 100, will now compete in the doubles event for which she has teamed up with Chinese Taipei's Chia-Jung Chuang. The pair will take on the Czech combination of Iveta Benesova and Barbora Strycova Zahlavova in the opening round.
Yuki earned three breakpoints in the first set but could not convert any apart from dropping serve once. In second set, he was successful breaking Diego once and even saved four breakpoints but could stop Argentine from winning.
In the men's doubles, Mahesh Bhupathi and his Bahamian partner Mark Knowles are seeded third and they will open their campaign against French pair of Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Leander Paes and his Czech partner are seeded fourth and they are up against Chile pair of Fernando Gonzalez and Juan Monaco.
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