Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza has stormed into the second round of the women's singles event of the Japan Open after knocking out fifth seeded Shahar Peer of Israel in the first round at Osaka, Japan on Monday.

The 22-year old, Sania ousted her frequent doubles partner Peer in a three setter match by 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes. Sania was broken thrice in the first set but Sania saved three break-points in the second set to level the match. Sania held her nerves in the decider to win the set and match.

Sania will now lock horns with Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine in the second round. Kutuzova was declared winner of match against Russian Maria Kirilenko when she opted to withdraw due to injury. Kutuzova was leading the match by 6-2 at that moment.

In other match, the eighth seeded Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan went down to Mathilde Johansson of France 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 in the first round. The fourth seeded Italian Francesca Schiavone and seventh seeded Melinda Czink of Hungary also advanced in to second round after winning their respective matches.