Sania Mirza draws Martina Hingis in Dubai Open.
Sania Mirza would meet Martina Hingis, five time Grand Slam Champion, in the first round of Dubai Duty Free Women's Open.
Last year the very tournament shot Sania Mirza's fame to sky, when she
defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, then US Open Champion. Sania
entered last year draw as wild card.
Martina Hingis, who won the inaugural Dubai Tennis Championship title
in 2001, returned to tennis in January after her three year absence due
to leg injury. Swiss Miss is ranked 48 after her excellent performance
in Australian Open where she advanced to quarterfinals and beat Maria
Sharapova in the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Sania Mirza has a tough draw, as she may meet former French Open
champion Anastasia Myskina if she went past Martina Hingis and has the
prospect of meeting Maria Sharapova in the quarter finals if she runs
through Myskina.
Dubai Duty Free Women's Open is a WTA Tier-II outdoor hardcourt event
with the prize money of US$ one million. Also top four seeded players -
defending champion and world number 1 Lindsay Davenport, Australian
Open winner Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova and Justine
Henin-Hardenne - all received first-round byes in the 32-player event
that starts on Monday - 20th February