Aus Open: Sania to face Azarenka in first round

Sania, seeded 32nd, is in the bottom half of the draw and could run into French third seed Amelie Mauresmo in the third round.

Sania Mirza is set to play junior world champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in the women's singles first round at the Australian Open starting on Monday.

HT Image

Sixteen-year old Azarenka, world ranked 156, also won the girls' singles and doubles titles at the Australian Open in 2005.

Sania, seeded 32nd, is in the bottom half of the draw and could run into French third seed Amelie Mauresmo in the third round.

"Seeding doesn't count for much once you are out there on court ... Playing a qualifier in the first round is never easy as she has the confidence of already having won three matches in the qualifying draw and is well acquainted with the playing conditions," Sania said of her first round match.