India's [ Images ] challenge in the singles event of the season's first Grand Slam was over in just an hour and 28 minutes, as Sania Mirza [ Images ] went down to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova [ Images ] in straight sets, in the first round of the Australian Open [ Images ], in Melbourne [ Images ], on Monday.

Back after recovering from a knee injury, Sania showed glimpses of a fightback against Pironkova, but it was not enough. The world No. 105 Indian was beaten 4-6, 2-6.

In the absence of Somdev Devverman, who was forced out of the tournament after an injury, Sania was country's only hope in singles.

The Indian put up a brave show in the first set but made 20 unforced errors, compared to 14 by the Bulgarian.

Sania started the second set on a positive note. After holding her first serve easily, she fought her way from 0-40 down to deuce on Pironkova's serve in the third game of the set. However, the Hyderabadi failed to earn a much-needed break.

However, she backed it with a fine service game to make it two-all in the second set.

The 25-year-old had a great chance to go ahead in the next game as she pounced on a loose second serve from Pironkova to gain a break-point, but squandered the advantage.

She once again conceded two break-points in the sixth game to help Pironkova tighten her grip over the match with the score reading 4-2 in favour of the 47th ranked Bulgarian.

Sania tried to stage a comeback in the next game, holding her opponent to deuce, but Pironkova won the seventh game of the set to make it 5-2.

From there on it was a tough task for the Indian ace and Pironkova relied on her powerful service game to shut the door.

Sania has only twice reached the second round of a major in the last two seasons, while Pironkova had reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon [ Images ] in 2010 and quarter-finals last year although she struggled at other Grand Slams in the same period.