PUNE, SEPTEMBER 3 Sometime on Sunday, probably very late at night, Sania Mirza will take on Maria Sharapova, the world’s best tennis player in the fourth round of the US Open. On paper the odds are stacked against her; Ladbrokes offers 1/16 for a bet on Sharapova and 7/1 for Sania.

But sporting contests — most of them, anyway — take place beyond the legislation of bookies’ odds. And Sania, all grit and steely determination, is not going to walk out on Arthur Ashe Court preparing to roll over and be trampled on.

Instead, she’s likely to seize her 15 minutes of fame, revel under the lights, wow the crowds and end the match, whether as winner or loser, with her head held high.

Team Sania says there is a definite gameplan to tackle Sharapova. Coach John Farrington, for example, says that she can use the Russian’s pace to her advantage.

One man who has worked with Sania for the past few years believes she can control the match if she controls her shots. ‘‘Two factors will decide the match’’, says Enrico Piperno, India’s Fed Cup coach. ‘‘The power of her shots and the number of unforced errors.’’

The first is a double-edged sword. Used wisely, it can be a lethal weapon. ‘‘I’ve practiced with her and she hits the ball hard. It’s only my firm grip that helps me counter it’’, Piperno told The Sunday Express.

The flip side, though, is that it accounts for a large part of her unforced errors. Piperno explains: ‘‘There’s a difference of around eight feet between back-of-the-court and mid-court, the two spots to stand during a rally, but there’s no difference in the power of her shots. Hitting that hard is fine from the baseline but when she comes up, it makes the ball either balloon up and out or go long.’’

If she can control her shots, check the power, use softer hands, she reduces the risk of unforced errors.

Piperno lists one more asset: Her self-belief, which allows her to win the big points. As she demonstrated on Friday against Marion Bartoli in the tie-breaker of the first set. ‘‘From 1-1 to 5-1, the winners just kept coming; that’s all that’s needed on any given day.’’

The given day is here and now. In form, with her weapons firing, Sania could give Sharapova a run for her roubles. It’s time to raise a racquet.

Showdown of the teen queens  

MARIA SHARAPOVA Age: 18 years 5 months Height: 6’ 2" STRENGTH: Power, pace, experience, height (and therefore reach too) WEAKNESS: Few, but one could be lack of form. Is returning to action after three weeks out with injury OPPORTUNITY: Play her game — preferably making Sania run — and leave the rest to the Darwinian principle THREAT: Could crack under nerves — this isn’t her favourite surface — and if she doesn’t have the crowd

SANIA MIRZA Age: 18 years 10 months Height: 5’ 7" STRENGTH: Amazing self-belief, pin-point forehand and a developing backhand WEAKNESS: Unforced errors — 150 from her three matches so far — and poor serve OPPORTUNITY: She’s the underdog in the city that loves an underdog. If she plays her game and enjoys herself, who knows? THREAT: Sharapova’s not top seed for nothing. Sania’s biggest threat, though, will come from herself — her on-off focus, errors and stomach injury — Text By Micky Aigner