The Indian hopes of getting an Olympic spot, in the upcoming London Olympics received a blow, when Sania Mirza crashed out of the women doubles in the first round. World No.10 Sania, partnering American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, needed to stay in top-10 before the June 11 cut-off mark for a direct entry into the doubles draw at Olympics.

Retaining her spot in the top-10 would not only have ensured Sania a place in the main draw at London but also given her a shot in the mixed doubles. And for that, she needed to defend 1400 points at the Roland Garros, where she was a finalist last year. Only a top-10 player can choose his/her partner at the Olympics. But Tuesday’s 3-6 6-4 5-7 defeat to Nina Bratchikova of Russia and Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania means Sania will now have to rely on a wild card entry in the singles draw, for which the All India Tennis Association (AITA) has already applied.