Sania 'ankled out' for weeks

NEW DELHI: Sania Mirza's dream run has finally been halted not by an experienced pro but by her own 'twisty' ankles and if she's isn't careful, she may just go the Martina Hingis way.

"Her ankles have not healed properly. She's suffering from a condition called oedema. The doctors have found fluid in both her ankles, more so in her left ankle, which is in plaster," Sania's dad Imran Mirza told TOI on Monday.

The doctors in Hyderabad have performed quite a few intricate tests including bone density tests but the only line of treatment prescribed is rest, he added.

Sania's problems which began in Florida in December 2004 have reached a stage where doctors have now warned her of a career-ending injury if she continues to push her shaky ankles.

The Mirzas agreed that it's the same problem that has worsened over a period of time. "The problem is lack of rest. I have been playing without giving it enough time to heal. But I will be reassessing it on April 17 in Hyderabad", Sania, who was in Mumbai shooting for a commercial, said.

All this means Sania will be out for six to eight weeks, effectively putting her out of the Fed Cup in New Delhi next week as also the French Open.

Sania, though, is expected to be in New Delhi for the entire duration of the Fed Cup and be a part of the team as it will help India get a seeding because of her high ranking.

"She is very disappointed as she was looking forward to playing along with Shikha Uberoi but we don't want the injury to go worse," her father said.