Wrist injury a major concern, says Indian star Sania

Sania Mirza has reasons to be concerned about her wrist injury after her first round exit in the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday.

By Adur Pradeep

Published: Tue 16 Feb 2010, 12:05 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 8:53 AM

She lost in straight sets (3-6 4-6) to the world no. 32 Anabel Medina Garrigues. The Indian star is not sure whether she would be able to contest in the doubles tournament here.

“Honestly I have not had time to think. I need to talk to my partner. You know, we have to look at a lot of things when you are playing doubles. I am playing with a person who plays just doubles. It’s not fair that she will come all the way from Spain and I say, oh, my wrist is a bit sore,” Sania told reporters after the match.

Sania and her partner Virginia Ruano Pascual are seeded seventh in the doubles event and are scheduled to meet the unseeded pair of Yung-jan Chan of Chinese Taipei and Jei Zheng of China in the first round.

Sania is not sure whether she could play in Malaysia, where she is supposed to play next event.

“With my wrist hurting, I’ll have to see whether I am going there or not, or go and see my doctor in India.”

She has been struggling to get past the first rounds this season. Since losing the second round in Auckland tournament at the start of the season, she has lost her opening rounds in Hobart, Australian Open and Pattaya Open.

Though Sania is not that worried about her form, she has big concerns about her injury.

“As a tennis player or as a sports person, you go through a lot of ups and downs in your career. You go through good patches and bad patches, and that is something that we have to deal with as athletes. It’s like your good day at work and bad day at work. For us it happens every week, every day.”

The number of fans for her match on Monday was relatively less, considering it was played during the day.

“I think this is the first time that I have played in the day on Centre Court. I usually play at night here. So, yeah, it’s always good to come back.”

Regarding fans’ support and the way it would influence her play, she said: “Well, I think you give your best, no matter whether you have fan support or not, but that’s secondary. I do think they get you going and stuff like that. But, with the effort, I think you have to give 100 per cent no matter where you are.” Sania, who won the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi last year, said the injury forced her to focus more on singles this season. “Actually, I tried to cut down on doubles this year, because I was struggling with my wrist so much the last couple of years. I enjoy playing doubles, but at the moment, singles is my priority.”

Asked whether the injury was the main reason for her defeat in the first round, she replied: “No, I don’t think so... not to take nothing away from her. We have played a couple of times before, and she is a very good player, no doubt about that. Yeah, of course, if I was healthier, I probably think that I could have won. There are no excuses.”

Despite the injury concerns, Sania thinks there are brighter days ahead in her career.—

pradeep@khaleejtimes.com