Sania Mirza pulled off a set before going down fighting to world number 17 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the first round of the Medibank International Open in Sydney on Monday.

The 19-year-old Indian ace, playing in her first WTA Tour match of the season, went down 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to the US Open mixed doubles champion in a centre court match at the US $600,000 event.

Last week, Sania, ranked 34 in the world, played her opening singles match of the 2006 season in the ended in Watson Water Champions Challenge in Hong Kong and lost to Venus Williams 3-6, 3-6.