Herculean task awaits Sania and Eva in doubles opener

Paris, May 28 (UNI) After getting a relatively easy first round tie in the singles, Sania Mirza faces an uphill task in the doubles as she and her new partner Eva Birnerova of Czech Republic will be up against top seeded American-Aussie duo of Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur in the opening round of the French Open.

Returning back from more than a two month lay-off following a minor surgery on her knee injury, the 20-year-old Indian is in sublime doubles form, having won a ATP tournamnet and finishing second in the other with two different partners -- the first one being the Morocco Open partnering Vania King of USA followed by a runners-up trophy in Istanbul pairing with Chan Yu-Jung of Chinese Taipei.

However, Sania, currently ranked 50th, will play lower ranked Alberta Brianti of Italy in the first round of the women's singles here.

But if she gets past the Italian ranked 37 places behind her, she will be up for some tough times as she faces seventh seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the next round, followed by formidable Maria Sharapova -- seeded second -- and third seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

UNI