Good and bad news for Sania Mirza

The Good News: Sania Mirza is the first Indian woman to be seeded at a Grand Slam; the world number 28 is seeded 26 for next week's US Open.
The Bad News: Sania Mirza is unlikely to progress beyond the third round at the Grand Slam where she shockingly reached Round 4 two years ago.

Of course, miracles do happen and we really pray that Mirza will steamroll past Russian star Anna Chakvetadze in the third round. Unfortunately, sixth-seeded Chakvetadze is currently the hottest player on the tour, apart from compatriot Maria Sharapova, and has beaten Mirza three times in 2007.

Two of those victories came at the Cincinnati and Stanford legs of the American hardcourt season last month with the Hyderabadi lass just about managing to take a set off her Russian nemesis.

But is Mirza guaranteed to make it to the third round? Well, on current form she should easily sweep aside her first-round opponent Kaia Kanepi - the world number 44 from Estonia. The two have never met before.

MATCH REPORT: SANIA MIRZA BEATS KAIA KANEPI

Round 2 should be slightly tougher. American Laura Granville, who plays a qualifier in the first round, will have the advantage of a home crowd if she comes through to play Mirza in their first head-to-head meeting. Granville may be ranked 60 now but the experienced player was once number 28 in the world - which is incidentally also Mirza's highest career ranking.

MATCH REPORT: SANIA MIRZA BEATS LAURA GRANVILLE

If Mirza safely negotiates these two hurdles, she will most probably run into Chakvetadze. Which should ideally be the end of the singles competition for the Indian.

MATCH REPORT: ANNA CHAKVETADZE BEATS SANIA MIRZA 6-2, 6-3

But suppose a miracle does happen and Mirza beats the Russian star, she could face Swiss player Patty Schnyder. The momentum should swing Mirza's way here, considering she beat the number 11 seed in last month's Stanford quarters.

There are too many ifs here already but if Mirza were to make history by reaching the quarterfinals, she could bump into another Russian rival - defending champion Maria Sharapova. The 20-year-old has beaten Mirza twice in her career, including in the match which ended the Indian's dream run at the 2005 US Open.

Well, no match is won until the last point and we can safely hope Sania's stinging forehand should spring some surprises at Flushing Meadows.