Sania to face Morigami first at Wimbledon

Sania Mirza, who is going through a lean patch, will face Akiko Morigami of Japan in her first women's round singles match at the Wimbledon tennis championships, starting on Monday.

It may seem an easy opener for the Indian sensation, but 72^nd-ranked woman needs to be on guard against her 25-year-old opponent who made it to the third round of the French Open last month.

If Sania, who was knocked out in the first round at Rolland Garros, gets past the 64^th ranked Morigami, she could face US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia next.

The fifth-seeded Russian, who will meet unheralded Rebecca Llewellyn of Great Britain in her opening clash at the All England Tennis Club, had lost to Sania in the Dubai Open in April.

The Indian teenager, who won girls' doubles title at Wimbledon two years ago, is going through a tough time since returning from an ankle injury.

Besides suffering a first round exit in the French Open, she failed to progress in some of the grass court events in the run-up to Wimbledon.