The Sania Mirza-Anna Chakvetadze background

A win over buddy Anna Chakvetadze will catapult Sania Mirza into the fourth round - matching her best showing at the US Open two years ago.

But it won't be easy beating the world number six. Chakvetadze sizzled during the American hardcourt season and thrashed the Indian on her way to the Cincinnati and Stanford titles. Head to head, the record stands 3-0 in the Russian's favour.

Mirza's wins over less talented players in the first two rounds were strewn with unforced errors - something Chakvetadze will be all too eager to take advantage of.

Plus with an exceptional serve, superior groundstrokes and a reliable backhand, the Russian has what it takes to counter Mirza's one strength - the forehand.

UPDATE: CHAKVETADZE BEATS MIRZA 6-2, 6-3

Chakvetadze has always done well at New York, having reached the fourth round last year and the third round in 2004 and 2005. This year, her best on the tour so far, the 20-year-old blonde from Moscow will be hoping to make it all the way to the final four.

Does Mirza, the first Indian woman to be seeded at a Grand Slam, have what it takes to beat her former junior doubles partner? Or should fans hope for a miracle.

Here's tennis expert Matt Cronin's prediction for today's match -

"Mirza cannot afford to play long points with Chakvetadze, who is excellent at pulling her out of position and either forcing an error or smoking a winner. She has to go straight at the Russian's body with her hammer forehand in order to get Chakvetadze to stand still once in while, because the Russian is deadly on the run. Most importantly, she has to serve very well, because while Mirza has improved her movement, backhand and on court composure, her serve is still a weakness. If she zones on her forehand, Mirza could pull an upset here, but the intelligent Chakvetadze will find a way around her and triumph in three sets."

Well, if Indian hopes are dashed in singles, there might be some hope in the doubles events.

DOUBLE DELIGHT IN DOUBLES

Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi trounced seventh seeds Elena Likhovtseva and Daniel Nestor in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the mixed doubles. Next up for the Indian duo are American Bob Bryan and France's Tatiana Golovin.

Also fighting for a place in the quarterfinals are Leander Paes and American Meghann Shaughnessy. They are up against fifth seeded Czech duo Martin Damm (Paes' regular men's doubles partner) and Kveta Peschke.

In the women's doubles, Mirza and American Bethanie Mattek, seeded 16, have reached the third round after rushing past Jarmila Gajdosova and Bryanne Stewart 6-2, 6-2.

And in the men's doubles, sixth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and his Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic wll have the tough task of facing home crowd favourites Sam Querrey and Robert Kendrick for a place in the third round.