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Indian challenge in the ladies singles event at the Australian Open [Images] will once again be confined only to Sania Mirza [Images] as Sunitha Rao crashed out of the qualifying event losing her first round match in Melbourne on Thursday.

Sunitha, India's second-highest-ranked player at 196, lost 3-6, 4-6 to America's Melanie Oudin, who is ranked 173 in the WTA list.

India's new tennis sensation Somdev Devvarman [Images], ranked 154th, will play his second round qualifying match on Friday against 207th ranked Lukasz Kubot of Poland.

Somdev had edged compatriot Prakash Amritraj while Kubot has defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France [Images] in their first round match.