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Melbourne: After Sania Mirza's comeback to competitive tennis from a knee injury ended in two consecutive defeats, including one at Australian Open on Monday, the Indian said her joint structure is such that she is more prone to injuries.
Sania's 2011 season was cut short after the US Open due to a knee injury and she began the new season at Auckland where she lost in the qualifiers. On Monday, she lost 4-6, 2-6 in the women's singles first round of the Australian Open to Tsvetana Pironkova.
The 25-year-old said it is not easy to come back after suffering injuries consistently.
"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. 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."
"Of course, I'm disappointed but I will try to take as many positives as I can," she added.
Talking about her Olympics dream, Sania said she is eyeing medal in the mixed doubles even, which would be introduced for the first time.
"A medal is a medal at the Olympics and it doesn't matter whether you get it in singles, doubles or mixed. The fact that even though a lot of people say maybe it's not a top priority, people are still going to play and they're going to play to win a medal," she said.
It's the first time since 1924 that mixed doubles will be included at the Olympics.
Sania did not reveal whom she would pair up with for the mixed doubles though, but said India have three tremendous players to choose from.
"I'm in a great position to choose from three people who are in the top 12 in the world and obviously the best team will be put forward."
She, though, admitted the she has done well with Mahesh Bhuapthi.
"Me and Mahesh have won the Australian Open once and played the final once and we play well together but...anything can happen (between now and London) but we're obviously going to try and get a medal in whatever we can. India is a big country and the Olympics is very important to us."
India only has one singles player ranked in the top 100 - Somdev Devvarman at No. 86 in the ATP rankings - but it does have some of the world's best doubles players. Mirza is ranked 11th in the WTA doubles rankings, while Leander Paes is No. 7 in the ATP doubles rankings, Mahesh Bhupathi is No. 8 and Rohan Bopanna is No. 11.
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