Sania Mirza: India's Greatest Female Player
First Indian Woman to Win Any Grand Slam Tennis Title
Feb 12, 2009
When Sania Mirza won the 2009 Australian Open mixed doubles title with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, it was the first ever Grand Slam title won by an Indian woman. It was a comeback as she had been dogged by injury for sometime which had seen her rankings plummeting.
Early Career
A Muslim, she was born in Mumbai but raised in the Southern city of Hyderabad, Sania's first coach was her father. She first made headlines when debuting for India Fed Cup team in April 2003 she won all her three matches.
A few months later, she won the Girls doubles title at the Wimbledon with Russian Alisa Kleybanova, the first ever Grand Slam title for an Indian Girl.
Further Achievements
Sania is the first Indian woman ever to be seeded in a Grand Slam tournament. She has won matches at all the Grand Slam events. When she played the fourth round of the 2005 US Open, it was the farthest an Indian woman has ever reached in a Grand Slam. In September 2006, she notched up victories against three top-10 players, Martina Hingis, Svetlena Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova,
Sania is the only Indian woman to win a WTA singles title, Hyderabad Open Finals, in February 2005. She has played in three other finals as well.
Her career highest ranking is 27 in singles and 18 in doubles.
In the 2006 Asian games, Sania won as many as three medals: Silver in singles, gold in mixed doubles and silver in the women's team event.
Having been runner up in the mixed doubles of the Australian Open last year with the fellow Indian Muhesh Bhupathi, in 2009, at the same event she landed her first ever grandslam title with him. Again it was the first ever Grand Slam title for an Indian woman. This was more remarkable since a few months ago she had pulled out of the U.S. Open due to a wrist injury. Her friend Yuvraj Singh, one of India's most popular cricketer, had helped her in recovery.
Threats from Islamic Groups and Other Controversies
Sania has drawn criticism from some Islamic groups who object to her playing outfit declaring it indecent and un-Islamic. Some of these groups including Jamiat-e-ulema-e-HInd even threatened to disturb her matches and once in Calcutta, she was provided special security.
During the 2008 Hopman Cup, she was pictured during a press conference resting with her feet close to the Indian national flag. A citizen even filed a case in an Indian court that she should be tried under the Prevention of Insult to the National Honour Act. Sania dismissed it as an accidental occurrence.
A month earlier, police in his hometown Hyderabad had registered a case against her for trespassing in a mosque for filming an advertisement.
All this compelled her to stop playing in India for sometime and she even thought about quitting the sport at one time. But she has always shown great character and resolve and has emerged stronger after being through such crisis periods.
Youngest Recepient of Padamshree; Other Awards
-In 2004, Arjuna Award (Government of India's award for excellence in sports) in 2004,
-In 2006, Padamshree Award (one of the highest civilian wards in India. At 19, she was the youngest recepient.
-In 2008, she was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Letters by the MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai.
She is easily India’s most well known and glamorous female sportsperson. In fact, Sania’s success coupled with her charm has led to the popularity of tennis in India among the general public and increased interest of the corporate sector never seen before. More and more young boys and especially girls are taking to tennis and more and more WTA and ATP events are being staged in the country.
