Sania seeded 9th, Uberoi sisters play qualifiers in Cincinnati Open

Cincinnati, Ohio, July 15 (UNI) The Uberoi sisters -- Shikha and Neha -- will play in the qualifications while Sania Mirza has been seeded ninth in the 175,000 dollar Western and Southern Financial Group Women's Open.

Shikha, who has been seeded fifth in the qualifiers, got a walkover in the first round and will now take on the winner of the match between locals Abigail Spears and Lauren Imre later today.

Neha representing USA will take on another American Carly Gullickson in her opening round of the qualifications for the WTA tier III tournament.

Meanwhile, Sania will be up against some tough challenge, which includes second seed Russian Anastasia Myskina and Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, who has been seeded third in the event.

Former Wimbledon and US Open champion Serena Williams has been given a wild card for the tournament as she makes her return to the court after a knee injury kept her out for some time.

''I have decided to return to competitive tennis at Cincinnati's Western&Southern Financial Group Women's Open,'' Williams said in tournament's official website.

''Lately I have been working very hard on making my knee stronger, and that work is progressing well. Barring any setbacks, it is my hope that I will be able to rejoin the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour at Cincinnati,'' she added.

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