Sania Mirza, ranked 46th in the world, is not seeded at Wimbeldon. The 20-year-old’s rankings could slip further after suffering another early exit. Sania’s form has been on the decline since her return to the tour from injury, but can she bounce back on her favourite surface?

“Its good play on a surface that you are more comfortable playing on, and feeling fit. I mean that is the most important thing, feeling healthy again and competing again,” According to Sania Mirza, exuding confidence at the start of the grass court season.

But sadly for the 20-year-old, she has failed to translate that confidence into success on her favourite surface, suffering early round exits at last week’s DFS Classic and this week’s Ordina Open.

If it was Italian Mara Santangelo, ranked 29th in the world, who dismissed the Indian in the second round at the DFS Classic in Birmingham last week, it was another Italian – Fransesca Schiavone – who knocked Sania out from this week’s Ordina Open in the very first round.

The early losses in the two grass court tournament’s have clearly raised questions on Sania’s preparations for next week’s Wimbledon. The Indian, ranked 46, is unseeded in the tournament and will now keep her eyes on the singles draw that will be released on Friday (June 22).

After the early reversals in the lead-up tournaments, Sania will be to looking to put in more work on her service.

“This is the toughest transition everyone has to make because it’s coming from the slowest surface to the fastest surface. So you know I got here early, so we have been practicing a few days, a couple of days before everyone got in. Obviously, on the grass court you have to know how you are serving because that’s the most important part on a grass court. Whoever holds or whoever breaks most of the time usually wins the match,” According to Sania.

Sania’s return to the tour after an eight-week lay-off due to a knee injury has been anything but impressive. Prior to the injury, Sania had made it to the semifinals at the Hobart and Pattaya Opens. Tennis fans across India will be hoping that Sania can reproduce the same form at the royal greens next week.