India's 14th seed Sania Mirza had to overcome a tough challenge from Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko before winning her first round match at the DFS Classic in Edgbaston, on Tuesday.
Sania won 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a thrilling see-saw contest.
She will next face American Shenay Perry in the second round.
World No. 41 Sania had also beaten Bondarenko last year enroute to winning the Hyderabad Open title.
