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Sania to face Morigami first

June 16, 2005 19:21 IST

Sania Mirza [ Images ], who is going through a lean patch, will face Akiko Morigami of Japan [ Images ] in her first women's round singles match at the Wimbledon [ Images ] tennis championships, starting on Monday.

It may seem an easy opener for the Indian sensation, but 72nd-ranked woman needs to be on guard against her 25-year-old opponent who made it to the third round of the French Open [ Images ] last month.

If Sania, who was knocked out in the first round at Rolland Garros, gets past the 64th ranked Morigami, she could face US Open [ Images ] winner Svetlana Kuznetsova [ Images ] of Russia [ Images ] next.

The fifth-seeded Russian, who will meet unheralded Rebecca Llewellyn of Great Britain in her opening clash at the All England [ Images ] Tennis Club, had lost to Sania in the Dubai [ Images ] Open in April.

The Indian teenager, who won girls' doubles title at Wimbledon two years ago, is going through a tough time since returning from an ankle injury.

Besides suffering a first round exit in the French Open, she failed to progress in some of the grass court events in the run-up to Wimbledon.