Sydney: Sania Mirza will take on the reigning junior world champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in her first round draw in the Australian Open which starts in Melbourne on Monday.
The unseeded Azarenka -- world number 156 -- is a familiar face for the Melbourne crowd after she won the Australian Open girl's championship last year winning both the singles and the doubles events but the 16-year-old faces a tough challenge in her maiden grand slam appearance as she prepares to take on the world no 34 Indian.
If Sania gets past Azarenka she will face the winner of 60th ranked Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands) and 78th ranked Kristina Brandi (Puerto Rico) match.
The 19-year-old Hyderabad tennis sensation, who is seeded 32nd, saw a meteoric rise in rankings after reaching the third round of the tournament where she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams.
Sania, who is known for her powerful forehands, is the only Indian woman to have reached the third round of a grand slam.
Friday, January 13, 2006
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