Sania hoping to keep off injuries

India's ace tennis player Sania Mirza poses during a photoshoot on a yacht on the Arabian sea off the western coast of Mumbai.

- Images: Sania shoots at Mecca Masjid

Sania said she was hoping for an injury-free new year after her 2007 season was cut short due to a series of niggles.

Sania, 21, achieved a career-high singles ranking of 27 in August, following an impressive run in the US hardcourt circuit when she reached the Stanford Classic final.

But she lost time to injury and a surgery.

- Sania needs to stay fit: Amritraj

"My first goal is to remain injury-free for the year. I lost three-four months (to injuries) last year," she told reporters at a promotional event on Monday.

World number 31 Mirza suffered a wrist injury after the US Open, where she reached the third round, and then cut back the season by a couple of weeks following a strained abductor muscle in October.

The Indian number one underwent surgery in March following a ligament injury in her right knee at the Qatar Open.

- '2007, best year so far' | Sania Mirza's domain

Sania, who will be back in action next month in Hobart, is hoping for a good outing at the Australian Open.

"Being the first Grand Slam, that is where you have the most surprises because I feel because everyone's coming out of their off-season," said Sania, who beat five top-25 players including former number one Martina Hingis last year.

"A lot of seeds go out in the first couple of rounds," said Mirza who has reached the fourth round of a grand slam tournament once, the 2005 US Open.

"I am looking forward to it."

Photograph: Getty Images | Text: Reuters