PTI

New York, Aug 31: Sania Mirza quelled a late challenge from Laura Granville to down the unseeded American 6-3, 7-5 and move into the third round of the US Open in New York on Thursday.

Seeded 26th, Sania was made to sweat for one hour and 22 minutes and the win pits the Indian against sixth seeded Anna Chakvedatze in the third round after the Russian beat Australian Nicole Pratt 6-3, 6-4 in another second round match.

Sania and Laura exchanged two breaks in the first set before the Indian broke loose and converted her third break point to go one up in the match.

Sania began well in the second set and looked in a hurry to wrap up the match as she raced to a 4-2 lead. Just then the American threw in the spanner, winning two of the next three games to reduce the gap.

Sania, however, still had the advantage as she went into the 10th game, serving for the match. She was leading 30-0 before squandering two match points, which allowed the American to break her and level it 5-5.

That served a wake up call for the Indian, who raised her game and bagged the next two games to seal the issue.