Sania exits in singles at Olympics

India's Sania Mirza retired with a wrist injury against Czech Iveta Benesova in the first round of the Olympic tennis event on Monday.

- Day 3 Images: India at the Olympics

Sania was trailing 6-2, 2-1 when her right wrist became too painful.

"It was hurting before I even came to Beijing but it's the Olympics so you have to try and give it your best shot," Sania told reporters clutching an ice pack.

"The timing is very bad. I've been on painkillers for the last six days and took four this morning but what worries me is that I could still feel it with that many painkillers."

Sania, who recently had wrist surgery, said she may still try and play doubles with Sunitha Rao. They were given a walkover into the second round when French pair Tatiana Golovin and Pauline Parmentier pulled out after an injury to Golovin.

Sania's injury follows the withdrawal of top seed Ana Ivanovic on Sunday with a thumb injury.

American Lindsey Davenport also pulled out of the singles and Russian former world number one Maria Sharapova did not travel to China because of a shoulder injury.