Sania Mirza overcame a stuttering start before packing off Russian qualifier Vera Dushevina 7-6 (5), 6-2 in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
Sania was leading 5-3 in the first set before a brief lapse in concentration allowed her opponent to take the first set into a tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, Sania came back from 2-4 to level it at 4-all before serving it out to win 7-5
The Indian, ranked 32 in the world, broke the 44th-ranked Vera thrice in the second set to win it 6-2.
"The first set had its close moments and some lucky breaks on the sidelines had Vera in problems. The second was closer than what it looked," Sania said after the match.
In the doubles, Sania Mirza and her Italian partner Francesca Schiavone scored an easy victory to enter the second round on Monday.
Sania and Schiavone beat wild cards Svetlana Kuznetsova and Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.