Pironkova test too much for Sania

India's challenge in the singles event of the season's first Grand Slam lasted just an hour and 28 minutes as Sania Mirza went down to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open.

India's challenge in the singles event of the season's first Grand Slam lasted just an hour and 28 minutes as Sania Mirza went down to Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open.


Coming back from a knee injury, Sania showed glimpses of fightback against Pironkova but that did not prove to be enough as the world No. 105 Indian went down 4-6, 2-6.

HT Image

"Not a lot of people know but I have extra-lax joints and I am double-jointed, because of which I'm more prone to getting injured in my joints, and hence that's what's happened," she said.

Tough comeback
"I've had two knee surgeries and a wrist surgery - it's not easy," Sania said after her match. "It was my second singles match in the last five months - obviously I'm always coming back from a surgery process, and I'm on that again and it's never easy."

Sania has only twice managed to reach the second round of a major in the last two seasons.