Sania says clay best for comeback

Sania Mirza believes that clay, although not her favourite surface, will be the ideal platform for her to make a comeback after a knee injury.

"Clay is the best surface for me to start playing again after the knee injury. That is what my trainer Heath Matthews also feels," Sania said from Hyderabad.

The 20-year-old left on Sunday night for Morocco where she will mark her return to action at a USD 145,000 WTA Tour event after a gap of two and half months.

The Hyderabadi girl suffered a ligament injury while playing in the Qatar Open in Doha in February.

Sania felt that sliding on the slippery dirt posed less danger for her ligaments than twisting and turning on the hard courts.

This is the third season in succession that injury has disrupted her schedule, and invariably it has coincided with the clay court season.

While the intense rehabilitation had helped her to go into the US hard court season at her best, Sania has not been able to make an impact at the French Open.

But Sania is pragmatic about it.

"That's true but injuries are part and parcel of every sportsperson's life," said Sania, who underwent fitness training and practice for the last fortnight in her hometown of Hyderabad.

After Morocco, Sania will be playing in Istanbul, a USD 200,000 event leading into Roland Garros.

After the clay court Grand Slam, she will be playing in Birmingham and Holland to fine tune her preparations for Wimbledon.

Sania will also take part in the doubles in these events, but is yet to find a partner.