Sania Mirza- The inspiration for many
3 min read
India's Sania Mirza hits a return. (Photo | AFP)
Born on 15th November 1986, Sania Mirza is a revolutionary sportswoman who alone makes Indian women’s tennis known internationally. She is the only woman sportsperson who has acquired her position in the top 30 of the WTA singles ranking and also is the only one to win the grand slam title.
The right-handed aggressive baseliner’s companionship with Martina Hingis is popularly recognized for its technique, victory, and style. 2 WTA finals and three grand slams have been grabbed with the duo, which is regarded as the best double player partnership.
Sania is considered a socio-cultural and a sportsperson representation in today’s world. She was the champion in the AustralianOpen (doubles)in 2016, runner up in the French Open (doubles)in 2011, champion again in 2015, Wimbledon(doubles) and winner in 2015 us open. Altogether, she ruled the highest-ranking of being number 1 with her incredible performance.
Her notable performance in the singles consists of the Australian Open, where she reached the third round in 2005 and 2008, French Open, where she extended till the second round both in 2007 and 2011. 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009 saw the best of Sania in Wimbledon, where she reached the second round and the US Open, which happened in 2005. All of which places her in the 27 rankings. As for the mixed doubles, she was awarded as the champion in the 2009 Australian Open, champion in the French Open of 2012, a quarterfinalist in 2011, 2013, and 2015 Wimbledon, and champion of 2014 us open.
Sania is blessed with having a forehand of significant length which made him capable of taking challenges at the beginning of her career. She has been featured in the “best forehands in the game” list. She has displayed her talent of using her forehands into the corner and giving a hard time to the opposition from any defensive position. Her long matches get affected because of her backhand, which is defenceless and conflicting, and her movement is also not up to the mark.
She had her eyes set on the doubles in her initial days though she started her career as a violent baseliner. Her collaboration with Hingis made it possible for her to tone with the Swiss’s fineness at net sometimes.
Under her father’s guidance, Imran Mirza, Sania started playing tennis at the age of six. Sania got married in April 2010 to cricketer ShoaibAkhtar and further took a break from her career when she was pregnant with her first child. Besides being a sportsperson, she also endorses several deals and also works as a model from time to time.
She has inspired many young women to take up tennis playing as a career. She has set her legacy by creating many “first” for Indian women. She was the first to win the grand slam title of any format; she was the first to grab the WTA year-end finals championship (doubles). Sania won the WTA single tournament as the first, and last she was the first to acquire a position in the top 100 of the WTA singles ranking. Sania has also set up her reputation of winning several medals in doubles and singles match at the afro Asian games, commonwealth games, and the Asian Games. She represented India in various internal events. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sania and RohanBopanna lost in the semifinals, which made them lose the bronze medal. Nevertheless, like every other celebrity, Sania has also got herself involved in several news and controversies for her outspoken comments besides using her voice and position for women’s rights and minority issues which won the hearts of several fans all over the world.
