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 [ Images ] on Thursday.

Sunitha, India's [ Images ] second-highest-ranked player at 196, lost 3-6, 4-6 to America's Melanie Oudin [ Images ], 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 [ Images ] of Poland.

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