NEW DELHI, Oct 19: India’s Sania Mirza will train with the coach of men’s world number one Roger Federer in the run up to the Australian Open, her father said on Wednesday.

The world number 32 will work with Australian Tony Roche during a three-week stint next month, Imran Mirza said from the southern city of Hyderabad.

“She is going to Australia on Dec. 5,” he said. “He will be working on serve and volley, that’s what he is an expert at.”

Roche, who trains Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Federer on a limited basis, agreed to help Sania after she was recommended to him by former Indian Davis Cup player Jaideep Mukherjea.

“We had been talking to him (Roche) for some time now but getting dates was not easy,” Imran said.

The 18-year-old previously benefited from stints under Italy-based coach Bob Brett, and has travelled with John Farrington of Bahamas since August.

Sania became the first Indian to win a WTA Tour event with victory in the Hyderabad Open in February.

She was the also the first Indian to break into the top 100 and reach the third round of a grand slam at Melbourne.

Sania went one better at the U.S. Open in September where she lost to top seed Maria Sharapova of Russia in the fourth round.

Her season ended in disappointment when she was forced to retire in the second round of last week’s Thailand Open due to a lower back problem.

“It was minor, she is okay now,” her father said. “She is done for the year and is enjoying a break. She is not even touching the racket.”

The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the season and starts on Jan 16.—Reuters