Beijing, Aug 11: India's tennis sensation Sania Mirza retired from the first round of women's singles event at the Beijing Olympics against Czech Iveta Benesova.

Sania was trailing 1-6, 1-2 when she retired. The Czech holds a 3-0 record in her previous three meetings, the latest being the last week's Stockholm where the Indian went down in a hard fought three-setter. Sania has been battling with injury of late. The pull-out also put Sania's participation for the doubles event in doubt. She will be teaming up with India's No.2 player Sunitha Rao in the doubles. The duo has paired just once in the Fed Cup in Bangkok early this year.

Both of them were instrumental in defeating the Hong Kong pair of Yang Zi-jun and Zhang Ling to ensure that India remain in the same group next year.

OneIndia News