Kolkata Dec 16 (IANS) Indian tennis star Sania Mirza said on Saturday that she will not be taking part in the Australian Open early next year due to a right knee injury.
"Basically I have something that s called a jumper s knee. So it s extrmely painful...like I am okay to walk but it s painful to change directions and play. That s the biggest problem. So I can run straight but I can t actually do plyometric stuff on it " the 31-year-old said told reporters on the sidelines of the Premjit Lall Invitational Tennis Tournament at the Jaidip Mukherjea Academy.
"When I spoke to my doctor a couple of months ago they told me to take a couple of months off then see how it feels before getting into a process of either surgery or injections or whatever.
"So when I saw them the pain wasn t less after two months. So mow we have to take a call whether we have to do a surgery or take a couple of injections.
"So it s a little up in the air. I can t tell you a definitive when but it won t be before the next couple of months atleast. I will be missing the Australian Open for sure " Sania added.
Sania said she will need time to get back on the court though expressing hope that she will take part in the Commonwealth Games (April 4 to 15) and Asian Games (August 18 - September 2) next year.
"Hopefully I will be okay for that. I ve always said that every time people ask me about plans ahead as tennis players we don t know about our health. We don t know where will be at that point. It s still one year it s a long time anything can happen. Hopefully I ll be healthy again " the 31-year old former former world No.1 in the women s doubles said.
Sania was the guest of honour in the three-day event alongwith former Indian tennis great Vijay Amritraj and Somdev Devvarman.
Asked if seeing so many kids in the academy asking for her autograph and a selfie reminded her of the first time she held a tennis racket Sania said: "I was six years old. The coach did not want to take me as I was too small to play tennis at that time. My mum had to force him to take me. It was a big argument and then he took me.
"After a month he called my parents and said you have to come and watch her play because I ve never seen a six-year old play like that. That s how I remember my first memory of holding a tennis raquet."
At the podium while giving away awards Sania wished she spent more time playing in India.
"It s good to be back in Kolkata. when Jaidip da calls us we come and that s why we come. I miss playing in India. I am hoping for a women s tournament as well " Sania said.
--IANS
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