By DPA
Indian Wells (California) : India’s Sania Mirza faces a scan and possible surgery after a chronic wrist problem flared during her pre quarterfinal loss to Slovak Daniela Hantuchova at the Indian Wells Masters.
The number 32 went down 1-6, 6-7 (4-7) Tuesday to title holder Hantuchova before revealing her fitness worry.
Sania, 21, blames the recurring problem on her tennis grip.
“I have a very western grip on my forehand, that’s why I have the wrist problem. Either I change my grip, which I’m not going to do, or I probably have to get surgery.
“I’ve actually had it (injury) for a few days now since we have been playing in the wind. I have something going on and off with the wrist,” she said.
“It was fine, I hit 45 minutes yesterday. But (during the match) I hit a late forehand on one of her returns and then the very next point I hit another very late forehand.
“I couldn’t press the button on the (exercise) bike just now, so it’s very, very sore right now,” she said.
Sania, however, said that if she does have to resort to a medical procedure, it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
“It usually doesn’t get this sore, so I’m a little worried right now. It gets sore and then it gets okay when I ice it.
“I’m going to try and push it as much as I can, obviously. I’m going to get an MRI (scan) next couple of days,” she said.
“I’m almost like defying nature every time I hit a forehand because I have a very extreme grip. But I’ve been doing it for the last 16 years of my life, playing like this. It’s a big step to even change it half an inch because my game is my forehand.
“I will if I have to but I would obviously like to look at other options before that,” she added.