Sania Mirza eyes second WTA title

Idian tennis sensation Sania Mirza is hopeful her new-found confidence after a good showing in the U.S. Open can help her claim a second career WTA victory at the $170,000 Sunfeast Open next week.

"It was great to play the fourth round of the U.S Open. I'm feeling very good and I'm confident about my game," she said on Saturday. "The confidence goes up and you know you can match the best in the business."

The 18-year-old player, whose sensational run this year has lifted her to 34 in the world rankings, eventually lost to Russian Maria Sharapova at the U.S. Open.

Mirza faced a packed news conference at the indoor event in the eastern city of Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. She has proved a huge draw with as many as 300 media accreditations issued.

Millions of fans are hopeful Mirza can emulate her success the last time she played at home, when she claimed her maiden WTA title at her hometown Hyderabad in February.

Mirza has not looked back since becoming the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a grand slam at the Australian Open in January.

"A lot has happened in a short period of time," she said. "No one expected this, but thank God.

"I knew it was going to happen, only it was a question of when. I'm thankful it happened sooner than later."

Mirza is seeded third behind Russia's 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina and her compatriot Elena Likhovtseva, both ranked among the top 20.

"Just because I won in Hyderbad doesn't mean I'm going to win here," she said. "This is a tougher tournament.

"I think people should start facing reality, they should start accepting the fact I'm going to lose matches."

An attacking player with a fierce forehand, she has struggled for consistency and both her serve and mobility have been affected by a stomach muscle injury and a troublesome ankle.

However, Mirza said she will not change here style.

"That is the way I play. I'm just going to go for broke," she said. "I'm going to have a lot of unforced errors, but I compensate that with winners."

Security has been tightened at the event after an Islamic group opposed to Mirza's on-court dress threatened to prevent her from playing.