By Jilawatan

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza desperately looks to regain some form as she opens her HP Japan Women’s Open 2009 campaign against former doubles partner Shahar Peer of Israel on Monday.

Mirza ranked 27 places in the WTA Tour rankings below Peer has an excellent record against the Israeli having beaten her in their last three meetings, including in the round of 32 at Indian Wells in 2008 when they last played. On that occasion, Mirza fought back after dropping the opening set in a tiebreak to win the next two 7-5, 6-3.

However, that match was well over a year ago, and her form this year, especially over the last 6 months has been anything but spectacular. Peer is the 5th seed at Osaka and will undoubtedly go into the contest as the favourite.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki is the defending champion in Japan and will take on Japanese teenager Ayumi Morita in the opening round. The other star attractions at Osaka include former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, multiple time Grand Slam doubles winner Samantha Stosur and Italian Francesca Schiavone.

Sania Mirza is also taking part in the doubles event where she is seeded second alongside American Vania King. They open their doubles campaign later in the week against the all Japanese pairing of Ayumi Oka and Tomoko Yonemura.