Sania blames lack of match practice for Round One exit

India's Sania Mirza blamed a lack of match practice after being eliminated in the first round of the French Open here yesterday.

India's Sania Mirza blamed a lack of match practice after being eliminated in the first round of the French Open here yesterday.

slammed! Sania Mirza returns to Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva during French Open Round One match yesterday. Mirza lost 4-6, 6-7.

The world number 95 is trying to regain form after an injury-plagued 2008, but looked short of sharpness in a rain-hit 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) defeat to Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva.

"It was tough conditions, going on court and then off, it was windy," said Mirza.

"I haven't had too much practice too because I injured my wrist again after the Madrid Open and had to head back home to treat it. And it's not one of my favourite surfaces to play on.

But I take nothing away from her. She played really well, she served really well and I think that was the difference."

Mirza held to love in an emphatic opening service game before the heavens opened, forcing the players off with the score 1-1.

After the World No 81 closed out the first set, the duo exchanged breaks twice in the second before Voskoboeva took advantage of Mirza's misfiring serve to seal victory in the tie-break with an ace.