Sania Mirza overcame a dropped set to beat Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 and move into the second round of the women's singles at the US Open in New York on Tuesday.
Seeded 26th, Sania was made to sweat by her unheralded opponent for about one hour and 40 minutes before the Indian came through.
Sania, world number 27, now meets 60th ranked Laura Granville in the second round, after the American routed Frenchwoman Olivia Sanchez 6-2, 6-2.
The Hyderabadi began well by pocketing the first set, conceding just two games, before the Estonian hit back. Sania did manage to stretch the second set to a tie-breaker but, Kanepi had the last laugh as stayed afloat and forced a decider.
In the final set, Sania was in her elements again and broke the Estonian twice. She dropped just one game in the set and was serving for match when Kanepi buried a return into the net and bowed out.
