Sania Mirza could miss the WTA Sunfeast Open because of a wrist injury.
The Indian tennis ace will take a final decision on her participation in next week's US $175,000 WTA event in Kolkata only after reaching the city, said Mahesh Bhupathi, who heads tournament promoters 'Globosport'.
On a roll in the WTA circuit this year, the nagging injury has troubled Sania for a long time; it got aggravated during the US Open, where she lost to Anna Chakvetadze, in the third round, for the fourth time in as many meetings.
"We know she is injured. But she'll definitely travel to Kolkata, where she will take the final decision. At this moment we don't know the extent of her injury," Bhupathi said.
The ace doubles player, however, said Sania as well as the organisers are hoping she recovers in time and takes part in the tournament, which might otherwise lose some of its sheen.
"She will take a final call on participating in the event closer to the tournament. We are hoping that she will play. And I can tell you, she is also hoping the same," he said.
"We're even prepared to delay her opening match if that makes it possible for her to take to the court," Bhupathi added.
Sania zoomed to the 27th spot in WTA rankings after some good showings in the last few months.
She was the biggest crowd puller in the first two years of the tourney, in 2005 and 2006.
Though she lost in the second round in the inaugural year, she reached the singles semis last year, losing to top seed Martina Hingis, but won the doubles title pairing with South African Liezel Huber.
With the tournament hardly drawing a full house in the first two years of its existence despite Sania's presence, the organisers could find the returns from ticket sales harder to come if she is forced to opt out.
