French Open: Sania and partner crash out

Paris: In a big blow to India’s medal hopes at the London Olympics, Sania Mirza and partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands crashed out of the women doubles with a first round defeat.

Sania, who is world No. 10 in the individual doubles ranking, needed to stay in top-10 before the June 11 cut-off mark to make a direct entry into the women’s doubles draw of the Olympics. A place in the main draw of the women’s doubles or singles would have given Sania a place in the mixed doubles event at the London Games where she was expected to partner with Mahesh Bhupathi. But after the 3-6, 6-4, 5-7 upset defeat against Nina Bratchikova of Russia and Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania it will be quite difficult for Sania to stay in the top-10 bracket. PTI