(AFP) – Sep 1, 2007

NEW YORK (AFP) — Sania Mirza is still trying to solve the mystery of how to defeat world number six Anna Chakvetadze, who extended her mastery over the Indian star 6-2, 6-3 Saturday in a US Open third-round match.

The Russian improved to 4-0 all-time against Mirza, including prior triumphs in a January semi-final at Hobart and in July at a Cincinnati semi-final and the Stanford final. Chakvetadze went on to win titles at each event.

"I can't play her. I feel like I don't play the right shots. I'm doing what she wants me to do," a frustrated Mirza confessed to Swiss 11th seed Patty Schnyder after the loss.

"There are lots of girls who can't play her," Schnyder replied.

Mirza, seeded 26th, is a friend and former junior doubles teammate of Chakvetadze and knew she had to make changes to have a chance to advance in the showdown of 20-year-old rising stars.

"I had to do something different. I didn't change it up enough," Mirza said. "I find it very hard to play her. She is very hard for a lot of players."

But that makes Mirza even more determined to find the answers for overcoming Chakvetadze in order to take the next step on her dream to reaching a Grand Slam final.

"You have to find a way to win," Mirza said. "There are very few Grand Slam champions and finalists. That's our target. We're trying to get there."

Chakvetadze hit a forehand winner to break Mirza's first service game of the match and broke again in the last game of the set when Mirza hit a forehand long after having denied the Russian on two prior set points.

Mirza fell behind 5-1 in the second set before rallying, breaking when Chakvetadze sent a backhand wide and denying the sixth seed on a match point when the Russian sent a forehand wide.

Chakvetadze held serve to end the match after 53 minutes on a forehand winner, ensuring she matched her best US Open showing from last year by reaching the fourth round.

"I didn't play an ugly match," Mirza said. "I was always running. She was dictating play. I like to dictate play. She served well. I didn't expect her to serve that well.

"I lost to a player who is top 10 in the world in the third round of a Slam. It's not that easy."

Next for Chakvetadze will be Austria's Tamira Paszek who ousted Swiss 11th seed Patty Schnyder. The ouster of defending champion Maria Sharapova gives Chakvetadze a clearer semi-final path but she said, "I'm not looking that far."

"If I play like today I should win every match. My body is ready and I'm mentally ready," Chakvetadze said. "I feel good. I feel consistent on court. I'm mentally strong."

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