Sania on high Down Under

First it was Cindy Maree Watson, then Victoria Azarenka and now Olga Savchuk 8212; India8217;s Sania Mirza impeccable opening round Australian Open record remained intact.

First it was Cindy Maree Watson, then Victoria Azarenka and now Olga Savchuk 8212; India8217;s Sania Mirza impeccable opening round Australian Open record remained intact. The Indian, in her seventh Slam appearance, began her campaign with only her third straight sets victory in the 17 Big Four shows she has figured in, winning 6-3, 7-5.

8220;Melbourne is special,8221; the 20-year-old has oft repeated, and Tuesday saw Sania come through a 8216;nervous Slam opener8217;, something 8212; Roger Federer down 3-5 in the first set, Andy Roddick a game way from being 0-2 in sets or even Maria Sharapova who lost a set 8212; the best in the business have encountered so far.

For Sania, her Ukrainian opponent was the player who beat the then No 23 seed Jelena Jankovic last year to enter Round 3, incidentally her best Slam show. However, Mirza who has had one of the strongest two months of her career 8212; reaching the final of the Asian Games, competing well at the Hopman Cup and reaching the semi-finals in Hobart 8212; was high on confidence and ready to overcome any hurdle.

While the first set was a breeze, Sania8217;s fitness 8212; something she so earnestly worked on in December 8212; was distinctly visible. A toned upperbody and a faster on-court movement made her the more accomplished performer of the two.

Pegging along level at 10 games, Sania faced two break-points that could easily have tilted the balance of the match. However, while Sania fought off the 8216;disadvantage8217;, Olga, in contrast, failed in the next to allow Sania a smile. Consider this: Olga8217;s break-point conversion stood at a poor 13 per cent, managing to convert only one of the eight she forced, unlike Sania who converted four from the 10 that came her way.

With Sania benefitting five points courtesy Olga8217;s double faults 8212; Sania incidentally had five 8212; just 10 points 85-75 separated the winner from loser.

Having survived the intense heat today, Sania believes that 8220;she8217;s a more complete player now.8221; Though doubts still crop about her weak serve 8212; against Olga she had an average 50 per cent first serve that she made up by maintaining a high first serve winning percent 70 per cent 8212; Sania says 8220;I8217;m fitter and although my serve is still weak, I know I can eventually turn it into strength.8221;

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However, the key in her rousing success so far has been the fact that this is the first time in six months that she is not dealing with an injury. 8220;My goal for this year is to stay healthy the whole time because I know that if I do, I can play freer.8221;

While the millions hope that she does continue, next up is Aiko Nakamura of Japan. A win would take her win-loss W/L Slam career record 8212; which currently stands at 9-8 8212; to double digits, which by far will be a first for an Indian woman.