I must admit it was a relief to see Sania Mirza not only back in action, but back in contention and actually proving a point. I can say without any doubt that, yes, our champ is back to her old self.

In the first round of the Australian Open, the forehands were back, possibly stinging a bit than usual. Her backhands were a class apart, and more consistent than ever. Her movement was quicker, perhaps a step faster than the usual. And finally the serve, short on quantity but a sea change in quality. Yes, the serve has acquired potency and acquired more variety. The only missing ingredient seems to be consistency.

But what is truly wondrous is that the fighting spirit has not left, the confidence has not diminished, the strangeness to the big arena has not crept into her game. Agreed, her opponent was a lowly ranked Polish girl, but the 22-year-old Indian girl, now ranked 61 in the world, had the goods that mattered.

The odds might have been stacked against Mirza after a six-month lay off, especially when you’re returning for a Grand Slam. Take a peek at Daniela Hantuchova, also manufacturing an injury comeback and had to fight a stiff 7-6 (13/11) 6-4 win over the talented but humbly ranked Australian girl Casey Dellacqua.

Mirza’s straight sets wins over world No. 25 Agnes Szwazay (she lost in the first round of the Australian Open too) at Hong Kong must have given her confidence. But what would really have given her a morale booster would be her 6-4 6-4 loss to Anna Chakdevatdze at the same exhibition. It was a consoling loss as the score line suggests a close fight, something which has eluded the Indian girl in all prior meetings with the Russian.

In the second round in Melbourne lies a greater challenge in the form of Nadia Petrova, seeded 10. With a 1-1 head to head record Petrova will be favourite especially after her change in fortune in the last few months of 2008, with tournament wins and deep finishes in high level draws across Europe. And with form back on her side Petrova is a dark horse to make the second week at this Grand Slam.