Rivals would be gunning for me: Sania

Sania Mirza today sought to play down her being seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam, saying it would only make her a target for rivals.

The 19-year old, ranked 34 in the world, has been seeded 32nd in singles main draw of the Australian Open where she is set to take on a qualifier in the first round.

Sania, who goes into the tournament without a win under her belt this season, said seedings would not matter once the match began, just as she showed the tennis world with her meteoric rise last season.

"Yes, it is a great honour. But the seeding does not count for much once you are out there on court," the Hyderabadi told PTI.

"And I know there will be a lot more players gunning for me, firing on all cylinders, now that I am seeded," said Sania, who reached the third round at Melbourne last season.

Sania's first-round opponent will be decided tomorrow.

The Indian said any qualifier would have the momentum going with her.

"Playing a qualifier in the first round is never easy as she has the confidence of already having won three matches," said Sania, who herself has lost all her three matches since she started the season.

"She (the qualifier) would be well acquainted with the playing conditions. I have been on the circuit long enough to know that it is foolhardy to look beyond the next match." Sania trained with legendary coach Tony Roche in December and began her season at an exhibition event in Hong Kong where the eight-player line up included three of the four reigning Grand Slam champions.

She lost to Venus Williams and Nicole Vaidisova in the singles there and then exited a Tour event in Sydney in the first round.

Sania is placed in the bottom half of the draw at the Australian Open, and she is in the same quarter as third seeded French Amelie Mauresmo.

A win in the first round would pit her against either Michaella Krajicek or Kristina Brandi before probably facing Mauresmo in the third round.

The start of the season has been entirely different to how she could have felt on the previous occasions.

She entered the Australian Open last time courtesy a default wild card whereas she has been seeded this time.

"It is a good feeling to have got to a level where one has the opportunity to compete against the best in the world," Sania said.