Sania Mirza won her 1st game on return to tennis after a gap of almost 2 years (Twitter: India_Olym2020)

Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza made a triumphant return to the court after a gap of almost 2 years with an opening-round win in women’s doubles at the Hobart International on Tuesday.

Partnering Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine, Sania overcame the challenge of Oksana Kalashnikova and Miyu Kato 2-6, 7-6(3), [10-3] to advance to the quarter-finals. In a match that tested the nerves of all the 4 individuals involved, Sania and Kichenok prevailed in the tiebreak after both pairs had one set each.

After losing the 1st set comprehensively, the match turned on its head in the 2nd as the Indo-Ukranian pair scraped past their opponents to take the game into the 3rd set. However, the 3rd set tiebreak turned out to be an anti-climax as Mirza and Kichenok won with ease.

The former world no.1 Mirza and her partner are currently unseeded at the tournament and will next face the American pair of Christina McHale and Vania King, who beat Spanish fourth seeds Georgina Garcia Perez and Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Mirza had taken a long break from the sport due to injury and then to give birth. The 33-year-old last played at China Open in October 2017 and is currently using a protected ranking.

Sania will also be vying for another grand slam title next week as he sets foot in Melbourne to play the Australian Open as well.