SANIA OPENER

Sania Mirza seeded 31st at the 2008 Australian Open, will open her campaign at the year's first Grand Slam tournament against Uzbek wild card Iroda Tulyaganova. The 26-year-old Tulyaganova is currently ranked 317 on the WTA charts but was among the top-20 players in 2001.The Uzbek girl has three singles titles to her credit and victories over Patty Schnyder and former world No 1 Kim Clijsters.If Sania clears the first hurdle, she could face local challenger Sophie Ferguson, ranked 176 in the world, in the second round.However, the sailing may not be that smooth afterwards as her possible third round opponent could be eighth-seeded American Venus Williams.