Sania to begin campaign against Rushmi

India's numero uno player Sania Mirza would begin her campaign at the USD 175,000 WTA Sunfeast Open by taking on qualifier Rushmi Chakravarthi in the first round.

The winner would meet either Russian Galina Voskoboeva or German Sandra Kloeel in the second round.

Veteran Tamil Nadu girl Chakravarthi made the cut for the main draw by accounting for compatriot Tara Iyer 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the qualifying tournament earlier in the day.

Sania, who arrived in Kolkata last night, had a two-and-half hour practice session in the morning and followed it up with another tune-up session in the evening.

Local players Manoj Sewa, Vinod Sewa and Akshay Bajoria donned the mantle of hitting partner.

Despite Sania's downward performance graph, former Davis Cup coach Akhtar Ali felt that she was now an improved player.

"Both movement-wise and physically, she looks better," Akhtar, who watched Sania's morning practice routine, told PTI.

Akhtar felt that the coming week could be a watershed in Sania's career as she strives to regain her lost touch which catapulted her to as high as 31st in WTA rankings.

"I think she will do well in the tournament. And I feel that she has as good a chance of winning as, say, Hingis, or any other player," said Akhtar, who has closely followed Sania's career ever since she emerged as a promising youngster in her early teens.

Akhtar felt that not much should be read into Sania's downfall in the rankings this year.

"In top flight international meets, it is easy to earn points when you have a low ranking. But it is much more difficult to defend them. That has been the case with Sania, who started last year as one ranked low in the circuit," he said.