Sania gets top billing in doubles event of Istanbul Cup

NEW DELHI: Fresh from her success in the Morocco Open, Sania Mirza has been top seeded in the doubles competition of the $200,000 WTA Istanbul Cup in Turkey.

The Indian ace, who clinched the Morocco doubles title with American Vania King, will be teaming up with Yung-Jan Chan of Taiwan in the event.

The 20-year-old has been seeded eighth in the singles and will take on American Meghann Shaughnessy in the first round.

In the doubles event, Sania and Yung-Jan will start their campaign against the Romanian pair of Sorana Cirstea and Agnes Szatmari.

The tier III event features some of the biggest names in the WTA circuit like US Open champion Maria Sharapova of Russia, American Venus Williams and Swiss Patty Schnyder.

Sharapova has already got a walkover to the second round.