BIRMINGHAM, England(AP) Sania Mirza began her grass-court season with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Tatiana Poutchek at the Aegon Classic on Tuesday, shrugging off a persistent wrist injury that had threatened to end her career.
The 22-year-old from India broke Poutchek's serve immediately and then won a third game that went to eight deuces and lasted more than 15 minutes.
``After what I have been through I am thankful to God that I am back,'' she said.
Poutchek, a qualifier from Belarus, twice broke back in the second set but was unable to ever take the lead.
Mirza has slipped well down in the rankings - she is now No. 98 - but she said she was delighted just to be back playing on one of her favorite surfaces.
I love playing on grass and that's what I am concentrating on,'' Mirza said.I'm not too concerned about my ranking it's never easy coming back from injury, but a couple of runs here and there and the ranking will take care of itself.''
Mirza next plays Anne Keothavong, the 11th-seeded top British player who overwhelmed Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden, 6-2, 6-2.