Sania Mirza was handed a rather easy draw at the Australian Open, beginning on Monday. The Indian tennis ace has been pitted against unheralded Olga Shevchuk of Ukraine in the first round.

The 19-year-old Ukrainian, ranked 103 in the WTA, had a highest ranking of 92 in February last after she reached the third round at the first Grand Slam of the year.

Sania, if she reaches the second round, will face winner of the match between Emma Laine of Finland and a qualifier.

If Sania crosses the first two hurdles, she might get a chance to meet Martina Hingis of Switzerland, whom she defeated in their last meeting in the quarter-finals of the Korea Open in Seoul.

Sania's best performance in the tournament was a third round appearance in her maiden season in 2005.

The 20-year-old Indian had an impressive start to the season as she reached the semi-finals of the Moorilla International Open in Hobart, beating world number 29 Maria Kirilenko of Russia in the first round of the tournament.

Among the men, Rohan Bopanna failed to make the main draw after losing to Michael Berrer of Germany 6-7 (3/7), 3-6 in the second round of the qualifying event.

The 290th ranked Bopanna had upset another German Tobias Clemens, ranked 196th, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.