Sania Mirza began her campaign at the Japan Open in style, outplaying local player Ayumi Morita 6-0, 6-4 in the first round of the US $1,75,000 tournament in Tokyo on Monday.
It was her first match since a third round exit from the US Open at the beginning of last month.
The second seeded Indian, who skipped the Sunfeast Open in Kolkata due to a wrist injury, next faces Australian Casey Dell'Acqua in the Tier III event.
Dell'Acqua beat Severine Bremond of France 6-4, 6-0 to advance.
Pairing with American Christina Fusano, she open her doubles campaign on Tuesday against Urszula Radwanska of Poland and Agnes Szatmari of Romania.
The tournament saw its first upset when seventh seed and local hope Aiko Nakamura lost 3-6, 4-6 to the Czech Republic's Klara Zakopalova.
