Sania has the right material to reach the top
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Sania has the right material to reach the top
If we were to do it all over again, I am not sure we would be able to do it," says Imran Mirza, father of India's teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza.
"Even if we had worked quite so hard another time, I am not so sure we would have even succeeded! You just go out there and keep trying your very best. Finally, you have to be destined to get there, that's all! I think Sania has a good destiny!"
The tall, lean Imran was talking about the difficulty in organising the kind of support and finance a young tennis champion requires in India.
"Sania should ideally have Rs one crore [10 million] a year spent on her training and playing," says Sania's mentor Krishna Bhupathi. "If she can eventually raise this amount of money through prize money and endorsements, that would be wonderful."Not surprising, then, that the Mirzas have decided not to get their younger daughter Anam, 11, into tennis or any other equally demanding sports interest.
"We could not have done justice to either of them, then," says Imran.
Either he or his wife Nasima always accompanies their 18-year-old daughter when she is out of their hometown, Hyderabad, but because of the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, both were not present to watch her exploits at this year's Australian Open, when she made the third round, where she lost to eventual winner Serena Williams. "It is not easy to be a girl playing serious tennis," says Imran. "Being an Indian girl, we have never allowed her to travel alone. That has put additional pressure on us; either me or my wife have to constantly travel with her. We have to find time for that away from our business. We have had to compromise on our own career and other goals. This takes precedence over everything else."
How long do they hope to continue doing this?
"We have managed it so far; I guess we will continue doing this as long as Sania plays," says Imran stoically.
Is being a tennis champ a hard life?
"Definitely," admits Sania. "You make a lot of sacrifices and have to do a lot of travelling. It is very hectic. Your days are very full. I begin my day at 5.30 or 6 am, and wind up only by 7.30 pm. It's a very tough life, being a tennis player."
"When she was in the fourth, fifth and sixth standards, Sania was a brilliant student," says Mirza.
"She hated missing even a single day of school to travel around to play tennis. She has had to compromise on that now, and come to terms with being just a mediocre student. Her learning now comes from travel and the experiences she gains all over. She has already travelled to over 35 countries, which very few 18 year olds would be doing. It does affect her social life. She didn't have too many friends in school, but has many friends on the circuit who have broadened her horizons."
Interestingly, Sania says that players on the international tennis circuit are also very supportive of new, young players.
"I was 13 when I began. My first trip out was to Pakistan, and it was very good experience. Everyone was really friendly. In Western countries, people are equally friendly, in England and all. But there are some people who are really focussed, and they don't talk. It's a part of your career."
"Academics, I have managed till now," says Sania. "My school was really cooperative. I had to concentrate a lot on my studies, and it was certainly not the same thing as going to school every day. As for my social life, I definitely cannot do all the things I want to do. But I do once in a while go out for lunches. It is a lot of sacrifice, but it's all worth it in the end."
Imran admits the family has had to make a lot of sacrifices.
"Our lives have changed totally from what they were before Sania became a tennis star," he says. "We have very little family time together. We put everything into the days we are together, because we know it is not going to last! We have had to totally compromise on our personal goals. Thankfully, we love tennis enough to enjoy what we are doing with Sania, and we don't find it tiresome. Not every parent probably goes the distance we go to make Sania lead as normal a life as possible when she's home and going to friends' birthday parties."
How did he and Naseema decide that tennis was the sport for Sania?
"We had a lot of cricketers in the family," says Imran, looking back at how Sania began playing tennis when she was a small girl.
"Being a girl, we thought cricket was not the game for her. So we tried her out at tennis. It was obvious, immediately, that she was very good at it."
Once they discovered that the Mirzas began trying to see how best they could build Sania into champion material.
"As we came from a sporting background, we knew very well the kind of pressure that build up in competitive sports, particularly at an international level," says Imran now. "So we tried our best to toughen her up mentally. Right from Day 1 we tried to teach her that as long as she was doing her best on the court, winning and losing did not matter. I think that a major role we played in her evolution was to build the right match temperament in her.
"Parental support is very important in this area. Kids don't mind what others say, but when parents criticise them, it really hurts them."
Sania makes no bones about the secret of her success thus far.
"If you don't have match temperament, you cannot win matches," she says, slumping down into a chair beside her father. "And if you do not have a killer instinct, you cannot win either. You cannot just say, 'okay I lost this match, maybe I will lose the next one too', and just give up. If you don't know how to win, there is no point practising eight hours a day."
The obstacles along the long road, from average tennis player to champion, are too many to count.
"Sponsorship is a major problem in India," says Imran. "Sania has been fortunate that she found the right backers at the right time: the GVK group recognised her talent before she was even known in India. They were perhaps the first sponsors to have backed a junior. That is when a player really needs support, not when he or she has already made it. The All India Tennis Association helped her a lot too, at one point. The press too has played a major role in the development of Sania; they have been truly supportive.
"Sponsors need to know that a player has potential before they come in, right?"
The Andhra Pradesh government too, he says, has been financially supportive.
"When Mahesh (Bhupathi) was playing, we had to run to the Middle East and Far East or the US to make the necessary points to make a mark on the international arena," says Krishna Bhupathi, Mahesh's father.
"Mahesh had to work for ten years to get there. Nobody knew because he was keeping a low profile. Plus, he was not a hot junior: he never won the junior Wimbledon or many junior titles. He only blossomed as a senior."
Facilities in India are certainly not up to international standards, but Imrans feels "if you have the right talent, and the will to win, that makes up for a lot in terms of the lack of facilities".
"Coaching levels have improved from the days when Sania was starting. As parents, we too have to monitor them carefully, and learn a lot along the way. You have to decide which coaches will suit your child best. You have to be in the heat of things all the time, so to say," he says.
"Tennis is a very expensive game, and there is so much talent in this sport in India that needs to be supported," says Krishna Bhupathi.
"There are many players who can reach a high level nationally or internationally. We need this depth of good players, even if none of them becomes a Leander Paes or a Vijay Amritraj. Only if there is that depth can India ever hope to produce a home-grown (Pete) Sampras."
The fact that Krishna Bhupathi has seen what Mirza describes as "top level tennis" has made a definite difference to Sania's playing style over the past three years that she has been under his guidance.
"He has made minor changes in her playing that have made significant differences to what she needs to do to win at the highest level," says Imran.
Bhupathi says tennis coaching has been pretty much the same from the days of Ramanathan Krishnan and Ghouse Mohammed.
"The attitude of the Indian sportsperson has changed," he says. "Whether it Mahesh, Leander or P T Usha, they know that they can go right to the top."
Surprisingly, Sania has not followed any kind of special diet so far. She herself admits to being very fond of meat and eating it at almost every meal.
"A dietician told us that for the kind of physical effort Sania was putting in, what she eats is almost perfect," says Imran. "She has been naturally gifted with an appetite that seems ideal for her."
How does Imran see Sania's future?
"Sania has the right material to reach the very top," he says. "We are hopeful that she will get there. We just have to give her time. There is a big difference between the senior and the junior levels. There are no guarantees on the international tennis circuit."
Does Sania ever wish she had opted for some other kind of life?
"Sometimes I wish I could have done some other things too, but well, that's okay," she says. "I have always enjoyed the game and enjoyed competing. I get to see so many people, meet so many different kinds of people. I am glad I made life in tennis."
However, Bhupathi says that a lot of girls have come into tennis over the past couple of years. "Girls' tennis is definitely coming of age in India," he says. "It's too early to calculate the exact impact Sania has had on women's tennis in India. But we already have at least 35 per cent of the students of my tennis academy in Bangalore as girls."
Still, as Bhupathi rightly puts it, "In India, there is cricket, and there are other games. We wish the cricketers well; we hope they make a lot of money. But we wish our tennis players could make some money too!"
"Even if we had worked quite so hard another time, I am not so sure we would have even succeeded! You just go out there and keep trying your very best. Finally, you have to be destined to get there, that's all! I think Sania has a good destiny!"
The tall, lean Imran was talking about the difficulty in organising the kind of support and finance a young tennis champion requires in India.
"Sania should ideally have Rs one crore [10 million] a year spent on her training and playing," says Sania's mentor Krishna Bhupathi. "If she can eventually raise this amount of money through prize money and endorsements, that would be wonderful."Not surprising, then, that the Mirzas have decided not to get their younger daughter Anam, 11, into tennis or any other equally demanding sports interest.
"We could not have done justice to either of them, then," says Imran.
Either he or his wife Nasima always accompanies their 18-year-old daughter when she is out of their hometown, Hyderabad, but because of the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, both were not present to watch her exploits at this year's Australian Open, when she made the third round, where she lost to eventual winner Serena Williams. "It is not easy to be a girl playing serious tennis," says Imran. "Being an Indian girl, we have never allowed her to travel alone. That has put additional pressure on us; either me or my wife have to constantly travel with her. We have to find time for that away from our business. We have had to compromise on our own career and other goals. This takes precedence over everything else."
How long do they hope to continue doing this?
"We have managed it so far; I guess we will continue doing this as long as Sania plays," says Imran stoically.
Is being a tennis champ a hard life?
"Definitely," admits Sania. "You make a lot of sacrifices and have to do a lot of travelling. It is very hectic. Your days are very full. I begin my day at 5.30 or 6 am, and wind up only by 7.30 pm. It's a very tough life, being a tennis player."
"When she was in the fourth, fifth and sixth standards, Sania was a brilliant student," says Mirza.
"She hated missing even a single day of school to travel around to play tennis. She has had to compromise on that now, and come to terms with being just a mediocre student. Her learning now comes from travel and the experiences she gains all over. She has already travelled to over 35 countries, which very few 18 year olds would be doing. It does affect her social life. She didn't have too many friends in school, but has many friends on the circuit who have broadened her horizons."
Interestingly, Sania says that players on the international tennis circuit are also very supportive of new, young players.
"I was 13 when I began. My first trip out was to Pakistan, and it was very good experience. Everyone was really friendly. In Western countries, people are equally friendly, in England and all. But there are some people who are really focussed, and they don't talk. It's a part of your career."
"Academics, I have managed till now," says Sania. "My school was really cooperative. I had to concentrate a lot on my studies, and it was certainly not the same thing as going to school every day. As for my social life, I definitely cannot do all the things I want to do. But I do once in a while go out for lunches. It is a lot of sacrifice, but it's all worth it in the end."
Imran admits the family has had to make a lot of sacrifices.
"Our lives have changed totally from what they were before Sania became a tennis star," he says. "We have very little family time together. We put everything into the days we are together, because we know it is not going to last! We have had to totally compromise on our personal goals. Thankfully, we love tennis enough to enjoy what we are doing with Sania, and we don't find it tiresome. Not every parent probably goes the distance we go to make Sania lead as normal a life as possible when she's home and going to friends' birthday parties."
How did he and Naseema decide that tennis was the sport for Sania?
"We had a lot of cricketers in the family," says Imran, looking back at how Sania began playing tennis when she was a small girl.
"Being a girl, we thought cricket was not the game for her. So we tried her out at tennis. It was obvious, immediately, that she was very good at it."
Once they discovered that the Mirzas began trying to see how best they could build Sania into champion material.
"As we came from a sporting background, we knew very well the kind of pressure that build up in competitive sports, particularly at an international level," says Imran now. "So we tried our best to toughen her up mentally. Right from Day 1 we tried to teach her that as long as she was doing her best on the court, winning and losing did not matter. I think that a major role we played in her evolution was to build the right match temperament in her.
"Parental support is very important in this area. Kids don't mind what others say, but when parents criticise them, it really hurts them."
Sania makes no bones about the secret of her success thus far.
"If you don't have match temperament, you cannot win matches," she says, slumping down into a chair beside her father. "And if you do not have a killer instinct, you cannot win either. You cannot just say, 'okay I lost this match, maybe I will lose the next one too', and just give up. If you don't know how to win, there is no point practising eight hours a day."
The obstacles along the long road, from average tennis player to champion, are too many to count.
"Sponsorship is a major problem in India," says Imran. "Sania has been fortunate that she found the right backers at the right time: the GVK group recognised her talent before she was even known in India. They were perhaps the first sponsors to have backed a junior. That is when a player really needs support, not when he or she has already made it. The All India Tennis Association helped her a lot too, at one point. The press too has played a major role in the development of Sania; they have been truly supportive.
"Sponsors need to know that a player has potential before they come in, right?"
The Andhra Pradesh government too, he says, has been financially supportive.
"When Mahesh (Bhupathi) was playing, we had to run to the Middle East and Far East or the US to make the necessary points to make a mark on the international arena," says Krishna Bhupathi, Mahesh's father.
"Mahesh had to work for ten years to get there. Nobody knew because he was keeping a low profile. Plus, he was not a hot junior: he never won the junior Wimbledon or many junior titles. He only blossomed as a senior."
Facilities in India are certainly not up to international standards, but Imrans feels "if you have the right talent, and the will to win, that makes up for a lot in terms of the lack of facilities".
"Coaching levels have improved from the days when Sania was starting. As parents, we too have to monitor them carefully, and learn a lot along the way. You have to decide which coaches will suit your child best. You have to be in the heat of things all the time, so to say," he says.
"Tennis is a very expensive game, and there is so much talent in this sport in India that needs to be supported," says Krishna Bhupathi.
"There are many players who can reach a high level nationally or internationally. We need this depth of good players, even if none of them becomes a Leander Paes or a Vijay Amritraj. Only if there is that depth can India ever hope to produce a home-grown (Pete) Sampras."
The fact that Krishna Bhupathi has seen what Mirza describes as "top level tennis" has made a definite difference to Sania's playing style over the past three years that she has been under his guidance.
"He has made minor changes in her playing that have made significant differences to what she needs to do to win at the highest level," says Imran.
Bhupathi says tennis coaching has been pretty much the same from the days of Ramanathan Krishnan and Ghouse Mohammed.
"The attitude of the Indian sportsperson has changed," he says. "Whether it Mahesh, Leander or P T Usha, they know that they can go right to the top."
Surprisingly, Sania has not followed any kind of special diet so far. She herself admits to being very fond of meat and eating it at almost every meal.
"A dietician told us that for the kind of physical effort Sania was putting in, what she eats is almost perfect," says Imran. "She has been naturally gifted with an appetite that seems ideal for her."
How does Imran see Sania's future?
"Sania has the right material to reach the very top," he says. "We are hopeful that she will get there. We just have to give her time. There is a big difference between the senior and the junior levels. There are no guarantees on the international tennis circuit."
Does Sania ever wish she had opted for some other kind of life?
"Sometimes I wish I could have done some other things too, but well, that's okay," she says. "I have always enjoyed the game and enjoyed competing. I get to see so many people, meet so many different kinds of people. I am glad I made life in tennis."
However, Bhupathi says that a lot of girls have come into tennis over the past couple of years. "Girls' tennis is definitely coming of age in India," he says. "It's too early to calculate the exact impact Sania has had on women's tennis in India. But we already have at least 35 per cent of the students of my tennis academy in Bangalore as girls."
Still, as Bhupathi rightly puts it, "In India, there is cricket, and there are other games. We wish the cricketers well; we hope they make a lot of money. But we wish our tennis players could make some money too!"
The Champions Roll
Alisa Kleybanova of Russia and Sania Mirza of India celebrate with their trophies after beating Katerina Bohmova of Czech Republic and Michaela Krajicek of The Netherlands 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the girls' doubles final.
"This is the best moment in my tennis career. It’s a dream come true to win a title at Wimbledon. No matter what else I do, this will always stay special," said Sania, who became the first Indian girl to win a Grand Slam title
'Playing in India doesn't help a lot at the moment' Rediff Interview with Sania Mirza on septemer 2004
Sania Mirza sits uncomfortably at one end of the couch. It is a typical day in Mumbai - humid with the rains refusing to come down and provide any respite. A sudden bout of cold has attacked her from nowhere and she is sneezing, huffing and puffing and finding it tough to even talk.
Sania Mirza"I don’t know how it came. Till yesterday night I was fine," says Sania, barely able to get the words out. Tired from the morning flight from Hyderabad and irritated by the cold she would well do without.
However, once the topic shifts to tennis, the pain begins to take a back seat and a smile surfaces on her youthful face. Sania is on her way to New York, to play her second US Open Juniors [she lost in the first round] and is staying at her mother's best friend's house. A thin waft of breeze passes across the Marine Drive appartment. It is relaxing. Being the country's top junior women's player consistently for the last couple of years now, Sania has just been displaced off the top rung of the ladder by another talented youngster, Isha Lakahani, who is at a career high 28, while Sania is five rungs below, at 33.
"Well, I myself was at 27 in January 2002," comes a quick retort. Sitting next to her, Naseem Mirza, Sania’s mother and travelling companion on the circuit, proudly adds that it was the best ranking achieved by an Indian right from 1952.
"Even Niru [Nirupama Vaidyanathan, India’s number one women's player] had a high between 40-44," quips a doting Naseem.
The Mirzas hate the word losing or anything which is near that. It's not arrogance. It's just the way they like things to happen. And they have a plan always. At the age of eight when the young Sania was spotted by pundits at a tournament in Karnataka, the Mirza couple made sure that their daughter will get the best of everything. And Sania justified the faith reposed in her by winning accolades across the globe. After dominating the junior circuit in the country, she shifted her focus towards the higher-valued tournaments abroad. Sania explains that she follows a step-by-step approach in her career.
"My first target was to be the top Indian women's player, which I achieved."
Her next target was to get into the top-30 in the ITF Junior world rankings. She achieved that feat in January 2002, reaching No. 27. It is not hard guessing what her next summit would be -- the women’s Tour, of course.
"We had planned to join the women’s Tour last year but I then thought I should play a few more tournaments and gather points so that I remain with a good ranking."
Good strategy boils down to doing the right things at the right time. Knowing that to get there in professional tennis you need to have a guidance of the experienced hand, the Mirzas sent their daughter to Bangalore to the CGK Bhupathi stable, in January 2002.
"Hyderabad doesn't have any good coaches and since we're talking big time, we decided to put her under the expert eyes of CGK Bhupathi," says Naseem. And the senior Bhupathi worked on her entire game and refined it more. As for her physical attributes, the 167-centimetre tall Sania is working on the programme given by her trainer on tour.
"It depends on what I want to improve on. If it is strength then I have to take care of my endurance and agility as well."
She feels she doesn't lag behind physically compared to the foreigners at this stage in her career and is working on a programme which will make her fitter in future.
One of the important aspects of Sania's rise has been the choice of the tournaments she plays. From the time she topped the Indian rankings, she has played 90 per cent of her tournaments abroad. Last year, out of the 20-odd major tournaments she participated in, 17 were played outside India.
Sania Mirza"I need to get exposure. Playing in India doesn't help a lot at this moment. I mean, I played a lot in India before my ITF training. But I needed higher-level tournaments, like Grade-II and Grade-III, which don't happen in India. I have played the Nationals, a $25,000 and a couple of $10,000 events, but there are no higher grade events in India."
She disagrees that the lack of competition is one of the factors that makes an ambitious player look for opportunities overseas.
"I don't think there is no lack of competition. After all there are players like Isha and likes to play here at home."
Talent never goes unnoticed. So, too in Sania’s case. The All-India Tennis Association [AITA] started footing the majority of her annual expenses on the circuit. The rest comes from GVK Industries, Hyderabad, and the Andhra Pradesh Sports Association, which have been supporting her for the last three years before the AITA pitched in. Having her mother by her side helps a lot. It enables Sania to solely concentrate on her game and leave the rest to mum.
Sania is a baseliner with an aggressive game. "I love to hit the ball… I just hit the ball really hard," says Sania, whose lethal weapon is her forehand. Vouches former Davis Cupper and this year's Arjuna award winner Sandeep Kirtane, "Sania goes for her shots no matter what the situation she is in. She is a good baseline player."
Although Kirtane feels she needs to work on her serve and volley, Sania and Co. believe they have improved on both fronts.
"I need to work on my running. My groundstrokes have improved, I have worked on my volleys and my serve, which, though not big, is okay."
So, is she well-equipped to tussle with the muscular divas of modern women’s tennis?
Like a successful start-up which gives itself a gestation period to start reaping dividends, Sania has a plan in mind and is confident that she can reach the top one day. And again she banks on her formula of planning.
"I am giving one-and-a-half-year's time to get into the top-300… I really want to be a professional," she stresses.
Once she is there, she gives herself three more years to reach the cream of the league -- the top 50.
Ambitious? No. This is confidence oozing out from the girl who will be 16 in November.
"Well, we Indians lack in the physical department as well. So, that is one area I need to work on. From there on I will have to play more and more higher-level tournaments like the $5000, $10000, $25000 and $50,000 events, where the real action is and where you earn lot of points and the money too."
Aiming high is fine. But people who are there are well-focussed and know what they want, go out there and get it.
Sania admits that her Achilles heel for long has been her losing focus mid-way into the match. "I am lacking in concentration… It’s just a matter of staying in the match for longer periods of time, concentrating more, because you have to put 110 per cent effort right through the match."
Take this example: Recently in one of the Grade-II finals in Pretoria, South Africa, she was one-set all and 1-5, 0-30 down against 45-ranked Kelly Anderson of South Africa. But the tenacious Indian hung back and after warding off another match-point at 2-5, went on to win the match.
"It was not that I was not trying. She suddenly raised her level in the third set that I couldn't do anything. There were seven or eight rallies. And I had to miss the ball, as she was playing some really good points."
So what went through her mind when she was down 0-30 and two points away from defeat. Betraying the seriousness of the moment, Sania laughingly recollects: "Actually, a day earlier, this guy was down 0-5 in the third set and in a similar position as I was on, and he went on to win the match 7-5. It was on the same court. That came to mind and I just hung in there and I won the match."
No doubt, this was one of her memorable matches, but she learnt a good lesson. She has summoned the much-needed resolve time and again when she is a set down or on match-point to see herself safely home.
"I hope I don't face many situations like that," she giggles.
Talking about safety, Sania feels most comfortable on the fast hardcourts although she can adjust on other surfaces too. Now that she has become a regular at the Grand Slams, she is finding her feet slowly but steadily.
Her Slam journey started at the 2001 Roland Garros, where she was the youngest Indian junior to play a Grand Slam. It was not one of the best tournaments, as she bowed out at the qualifying stages. Next at Wimbledon, she won a round in the singles and lost in the first-round doubles. Then, in her first year in New York, she won a round in the doubles but failed get past the first hurdle in the singles, losing to 12th ranked Russian Vera Zvonareva, who at the 2002 Open, went down to world No. 7 Kim Clijsters of Belgium in the thrid round of the women’s competition.
In the Australian Open, at Flinders Park, Sania, ranked 12, lost in the second round. At her second attempt in the French Open, she bowed out in the first-round singles and in the second round of the doubles. Getting a direct entry into the 2002 Wimbledon, she failed to clear the first hurdle in both categories.
The results are not one can can talk highly about but the experiences on the road have definitely come handy. Sania says that she has become much tougher mentally, physically and has learnt a lot on the whole.
"I definitely can match them stroke-for-stroke, although my foot movement is slow. The foreigners are much bigger and stronger and fast... it's a matter of me staying there and doing things right," assures Sania.
So what does she have in store this year at Flushing Meadows?
She feels that being unseeded will mean she will have to climb a tight rope. "I like the surface and now it depends on the draw. Hopefully, I'll get a good draw. I mean I can upset a few seeds but now since I am unseeded I need to play a couple of good matches," she replies with a little nervousness.
Fresh from a confidence-boosting tour of South Africa, where she won five titles out of the eight events she participated in, Sania is in the right frame of mind. Indeed, the time is ripe for her to set her sights high.
Sania Mirza"I don’t know how it came. Till yesterday night I was fine," says Sania, barely able to get the words out. Tired from the morning flight from Hyderabad and irritated by the cold she would well do without.
However, once the topic shifts to tennis, the pain begins to take a back seat and a smile surfaces on her youthful face. Sania is on her way to New York, to play her second US Open Juniors [she lost in the first round] and is staying at her mother's best friend's house. A thin waft of breeze passes across the Marine Drive appartment. It is relaxing. Being the country's top junior women's player consistently for the last couple of years now, Sania has just been displaced off the top rung of the ladder by another talented youngster, Isha Lakahani, who is at a career high 28, while Sania is five rungs below, at 33.
"Well, I myself was at 27 in January 2002," comes a quick retort. Sitting next to her, Naseem Mirza, Sania’s mother and travelling companion on the circuit, proudly adds that it was the best ranking achieved by an Indian right from 1952.
"Even Niru [Nirupama Vaidyanathan, India’s number one women's player] had a high between 40-44," quips a doting Naseem.
The Mirzas hate the word losing or anything which is near that. It's not arrogance. It's just the way they like things to happen. And they have a plan always. At the age of eight when the young Sania was spotted by pundits at a tournament in Karnataka, the Mirza couple made sure that their daughter will get the best of everything. And Sania justified the faith reposed in her by winning accolades across the globe. After dominating the junior circuit in the country, she shifted her focus towards the higher-valued tournaments abroad. Sania explains that she follows a step-by-step approach in her career.
"My first target was to be the top Indian women's player, which I achieved."
Her next target was to get into the top-30 in the ITF Junior world rankings. She achieved that feat in January 2002, reaching No. 27. It is not hard guessing what her next summit would be -- the women’s Tour, of course.
"We had planned to join the women’s Tour last year but I then thought I should play a few more tournaments and gather points so that I remain with a good ranking."
Good strategy boils down to doing the right things at the right time. Knowing that to get there in professional tennis you need to have a guidance of the experienced hand, the Mirzas sent their daughter to Bangalore to the CGK Bhupathi stable, in January 2002.
"Hyderabad doesn't have any good coaches and since we're talking big time, we decided to put her under the expert eyes of CGK Bhupathi," says Naseem. And the senior Bhupathi worked on her entire game and refined it more. As for her physical attributes, the 167-centimetre tall Sania is working on the programme given by her trainer on tour.
"It depends on what I want to improve on. If it is strength then I have to take care of my endurance and agility as well."
She feels she doesn't lag behind physically compared to the foreigners at this stage in her career and is working on a programme which will make her fitter in future.
One of the important aspects of Sania's rise has been the choice of the tournaments she plays. From the time she topped the Indian rankings, she has played 90 per cent of her tournaments abroad. Last year, out of the 20-odd major tournaments she participated in, 17 were played outside India.
Sania Mirza"I need to get exposure. Playing in India doesn't help a lot at this moment. I mean, I played a lot in India before my ITF training. But I needed higher-level tournaments, like Grade-II and Grade-III, which don't happen in India. I have played the Nationals, a $25,000 and a couple of $10,000 events, but there are no higher grade events in India."
She disagrees that the lack of competition is one of the factors that makes an ambitious player look for opportunities overseas.
"I don't think there is no lack of competition. After all there are players like Isha and likes to play here at home."
Talent never goes unnoticed. So, too in Sania’s case. The All-India Tennis Association [AITA] started footing the majority of her annual expenses on the circuit. The rest comes from GVK Industries, Hyderabad, and the Andhra Pradesh Sports Association, which have been supporting her for the last three years before the AITA pitched in. Having her mother by her side helps a lot. It enables Sania to solely concentrate on her game and leave the rest to mum.
Sania is a baseliner with an aggressive game. "I love to hit the ball… I just hit the ball really hard," says Sania, whose lethal weapon is her forehand. Vouches former Davis Cupper and this year's Arjuna award winner Sandeep Kirtane, "Sania goes for her shots no matter what the situation she is in. She is a good baseline player."
Although Kirtane feels she needs to work on her serve and volley, Sania and Co. believe they have improved on both fronts.
"I need to work on my running. My groundstrokes have improved, I have worked on my volleys and my serve, which, though not big, is okay."
So, is she well-equipped to tussle with the muscular divas of modern women’s tennis?
Like a successful start-up which gives itself a gestation period to start reaping dividends, Sania has a plan in mind and is confident that she can reach the top one day. And again she banks on her formula of planning.
"I am giving one-and-a-half-year's time to get into the top-300… I really want to be a professional," she stresses.
Once she is there, she gives herself three more years to reach the cream of the league -- the top 50.
Ambitious? No. This is confidence oozing out from the girl who will be 16 in November.
"Well, we Indians lack in the physical department as well. So, that is one area I need to work on. From there on I will have to play more and more higher-level tournaments like the $5000, $10000, $25000 and $50,000 events, where the real action is and where you earn lot of points and the money too."
Aiming high is fine. But people who are there are well-focussed and know what they want, go out there and get it.
Sania admits that her Achilles heel for long has been her losing focus mid-way into the match. "I am lacking in concentration… It’s just a matter of staying in the match for longer periods of time, concentrating more, because you have to put 110 per cent effort right through the match."
Take this example: Recently in one of the Grade-II finals in Pretoria, South Africa, she was one-set all and 1-5, 0-30 down against 45-ranked Kelly Anderson of South Africa. But the tenacious Indian hung back and after warding off another match-point at 2-5, went on to win the match.
"It was not that I was not trying. She suddenly raised her level in the third set that I couldn't do anything. There were seven or eight rallies. And I had to miss the ball, as she was playing some really good points."
So what went through her mind when she was down 0-30 and two points away from defeat. Betraying the seriousness of the moment, Sania laughingly recollects: "Actually, a day earlier, this guy was down 0-5 in the third set and in a similar position as I was on, and he went on to win the match 7-5. It was on the same court. That came to mind and I just hung in there and I won the match."
No doubt, this was one of her memorable matches, but she learnt a good lesson. She has summoned the much-needed resolve time and again when she is a set down or on match-point to see herself safely home.
"I hope I don't face many situations like that," she giggles.
Talking about safety, Sania feels most comfortable on the fast hardcourts although she can adjust on other surfaces too. Now that she has become a regular at the Grand Slams, she is finding her feet slowly but steadily.
Her Slam journey started at the 2001 Roland Garros, where she was the youngest Indian junior to play a Grand Slam. It was not one of the best tournaments, as she bowed out at the qualifying stages. Next at Wimbledon, she won a round in the singles and lost in the first-round doubles. Then, in her first year in New York, she won a round in the doubles but failed get past the first hurdle in the singles, losing to 12th ranked Russian Vera Zvonareva, who at the 2002 Open, went down to world No. 7 Kim Clijsters of Belgium in the thrid round of the women’s competition.
In the Australian Open, at Flinders Park, Sania, ranked 12, lost in the second round. At her second attempt in the French Open, she bowed out in the first-round singles and in the second round of the doubles. Getting a direct entry into the 2002 Wimbledon, she failed to clear the first hurdle in both categories.
The results are not one can can talk highly about but the experiences on the road have definitely come handy. Sania says that she has become much tougher mentally, physically and has learnt a lot on the whole.
"I definitely can match them stroke-for-stroke, although my foot movement is slow. The foreigners are much bigger and stronger and fast... it's a matter of me staying there and doing things right," assures Sania.
So what does she have in store this year at Flushing Meadows?
She feels that being unseeded will mean she will have to climb a tight rope. "I like the surface and now it depends on the draw. Hopefully, I'll get a good draw. I mean I can upset a few seeds but now since I am unseeded I need to play a couple of good matches," she replies with a little nervousness.
Fresh from a confidence-boosting tour of South Africa, where she won five titles out of the eight events she participated in, Sania is in the right frame of mind. Indeed, the time is ripe for her to set her sights high.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Sania loses in first round of WTA tour at Miami
New Delhi- Sania Mirza failed to rediscover the same magic which saw her vanquish some of the best in the business in the last few months as she bowed out in the first round of the 3.1-million dollar Nadaq-100 Open WTA Tour tennis event in Miami, USA. The 18-year-old Indian went down to Spaniard Maria Sanchez Lorenzo 2-6 5-7 yesterday in one hour and 13 minutes in the Tier 1 tournament, which belongs to the level next only to the Grand Slams.
Playing as a wildcard in what was only her second event at this level, Sania struggled with her serves -- making eight doubles faults as against just one ace -- and had as many as 10 break points against her out of which Lorenzo converted seven.
In fact, the 77th-ranked Indian failed to hold on to her serve in the first set and the two games she won were by breaking her opponent, 11 places below her in world ranking.
http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=161359
Playing as a wildcard in what was only her second event at this level, Sania struggled with her serves -- making eight doubles faults as against just one ace -- and had as many as 10 break points against her out of which Lorenzo converted seven.
In fact, the 77th-ranked Indian failed to hold on to her serve in the first set and the two games she won were by breaking her opponent, 11 places below her in world ranking.
http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=161359
Bittersweet tale of brother and brotherhood
I care for my brother Nikhil. The message, loud and clear, comes from
star actors, directors and icons of the sports fraternity. Abhishek
Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan, Karan Johar and Mandira Bedi, Rahul Dravid
and Sania Mirza, Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant and Mahesh Bhupathi —
they are all appearing on television voicing their concern for Nikhil
Kapoor.
Who is Nikhil Kapoor? An ace swimmer from Goa, he is afflicted with
AIDS and his fate will be decided this Friday. Not in an operation
theatre but in the theatres.
My Brother Nikhil, city boy Onirban's directorial debut, tells the
story of Nikhil, played by Sanjay Suri. "The film is set in a period
when there was so much misconception in India about AIDS that it was
possible to segregate a person forcefully if he was found to be
HIV-positive. In course of my research I read about a swimmer who was
arrested in 1989 for being an AIDS patient and even after being
released, he had to take permission to leave the house. The movement
to change the law started in Goa, which is where the film is set,"
says Onir, the name he is now known by.
The former student of comparative literature in Jadavpur University,
though, insists that My Brother Nikhil is not an AIDS film. "The story
revolves around how relationships get redefined when such a disease
strikes." Nikhil starts out as a jovial, happy-go-lucky swimmer — a
state champion in fact — loved and liked by all. His family comprises
his father Navin (Victor Banerjee) who brings him up as a
sportsperson, his mother Lilette Dubey and sister Juhi Chawla. But
when he is detected with AIDS and visited by the cops, the family
disintegrates and only his sister and a friend stand by him. The story
is narrated by the sister.
"Karan Johar had come for a screening of the rough cut. He said he had
cried for half-an-hour, he was so moved," Onir said, adding that the
star director-producer had commented that he had every right to be
proud of such a debut. "That really gave me confidence," the
35-year-old smiles.
It was Karan who spoke to Aditya Chopra about the film. "Adi too was
impressed." Yashraj Pictures then picked up the film for marketing and
distribution. "Aditya felt that it is important we start supporting
good, meaningful cinema," explains Tarun Tripathi, head of marketing,
Yashraj Films.
Support for My Brother Nikhil has come from diverse quarters. "Even
before Yashraj came into the picture we were looking for champions for
the cause. I spoke to Abhishek and Saif. Mandira (her husband Raj
Kaushal is one of the producers) was only too happy to help," recalls
Sanjay Suri.
Among the sports stars, Bhupathi saw the film first. Not only did he
agree to help with the publicity, he roped in Sania Mirza as well.
"The shooting with Bhupathi was done in Hyderabad while we had to
travel to Bangalore to get Sania."
If Mandira is among the cheerleaders, can cricket be far away? "A
contact with Rahul Dravid was made through the Bill Gates Foundation,
which is working big time with AIDS. The India-Pakistan series was
about to begin and a tight security net had been thrown over the
Indian team's hotel in Chandigarh. Our crew was stopped at the hotel
gate. I SMSed Rahul for help, and he himself made sure that they could
get in and the shooting could happen smoothly," Onir says, full of
gratitude for Indian cricket's Mr Dependable.
The publicity has been on in full swing. With just a couple of days to
go for D-Day, Suri, both lead actor and producer for the film, feels
he has been "fighting so long in the frontline and is about to gain
the summit". "People ask me if I am feeling nervous. The truth is my
hands are so full and the mind so keyed up to ensure the perfect
release that I do not have the time to think beyond the immediate
moment," he says, stifling a tired yawn.
If this is the fatigued producer speaking, the character too demanded
a lot from the actor, especially losing hair and weight (some 6-7 kg)
and gaining both back for the pre and post-AIDS look. "We did not
shoot at a linear stretch."
Suri is thankful to his cast for being "so supportive". Speaking of
the other Bengali connection in the film, Victor Banerjee, he points
out that he was perfect for the role "being such a good actor and not
completely overexposed". "You have seen just a bit of him in Bhoot."
Victor himself is eagerly awaiting the release. "My Brother Nikhil is
the muted expression of a very sensitive director, and I would love to
see it succeed in the hearts and minds of those who go to see it."
The success of Black and Page 3 has been reassuring. "It seems people
are ready for new-age Indian cinema," is what both Onir and Suri say.
New age My Brother Nikhil is, with just one song. As the swimmer takes
to the high seas, whether the fickle movie-going public takes the
plunge into meaningful cinema again, is what we have to watch out for.
star actors, directors and icons of the sports fraternity. Abhishek
Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan, Karan Johar and Mandira Bedi, Rahul Dravid
and Sania Mirza, Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant and Mahesh Bhupathi —
they are all appearing on television voicing their concern for Nikhil
Kapoor.
Who is Nikhil Kapoor? An ace swimmer from Goa, he is afflicted with
AIDS and his fate will be decided this Friday. Not in an operation
theatre but in the theatres.
My Brother Nikhil, city boy Onirban's directorial debut, tells the
story of Nikhil, played by Sanjay Suri. "The film is set in a period
when there was so much misconception in India about AIDS that it was
possible to segregate a person forcefully if he was found to be
HIV-positive. In course of my research I read about a swimmer who was
arrested in 1989 for being an AIDS patient and even after being
released, he had to take permission to leave the house. The movement
to change the law started in Goa, which is where the film is set,"
says Onir, the name he is now known by.
The former student of comparative literature in Jadavpur University,
though, insists that My Brother Nikhil is not an AIDS film. "The story
revolves around how relationships get redefined when such a disease
strikes." Nikhil starts out as a jovial, happy-go-lucky swimmer — a
state champion in fact — loved and liked by all. His family comprises
his father Navin (Victor Banerjee) who brings him up as a
sportsperson, his mother Lilette Dubey and sister Juhi Chawla. But
when he is detected with AIDS and visited by the cops, the family
disintegrates and only his sister and a friend stand by him. The story
is narrated by the sister.
"Karan Johar had come for a screening of the rough cut. He said he had
cried for half-an-hour, he was so moved," Onir said, adding that the
star director-producer had commented that he had every right to be
proud of such a debut. "That really gave me confidence," the
35-year-old smiles.
It was Karan who spoke to Aditya Chopra about the film. "Adi too was
impressed." Yashraj Pictures then picked up the film for marketing and
distribution. "Aditya felt that it is important we start supporting
good, meaningful cinema," explains Tarun Tripathi, head of marketing,
Yashraj Films.
Support for My Brother Nikhil has come from diverse quarters. "Even
before Yashraj came into the picture we were looking for champions for
the cause. I spoke to Abhishek and Saif. Mandira (her husband Raj
Kaushal is one of the producers) was only too happy to help," recalls
Sanjay Suri.
Among the sports stars, Bhupathi saw the film first. Not only did he
agree to help with the publicity, he roped in Sania Mirza as well.
"The shooting with Bhupathi was done in Hyderabad while we had to
travel to Bangalore to get Sania."
If Mandira is among the cheerleaders, can cricket be far away? "A
contact with Rahul Dravid was made through the Bill Gates Foundation,
which is working big time with AIDS. The India-Pakistan series was
about to begin and a tight security net had been thrown over the
Indian team's hotel in Chandigarh. Our crew was stopped at the hotel
gate. I SMSed Rahul for help, and he himself made sure that they could
get in and the shooting could happen smoothly," Onir says, full of
gratitude for Indian cricket's Mr Dependable.
The publicity has been on in full swing. With just a couple of days to
go for D-Day, Suri, both lead actor and producer for the film, feels
he has been "fighting so long in the frontline and is about to gain
the summit". "People ask me if I am feeling nervous. The truth is my
hands are so full and the mind so keyed up to ensure the perfect
release that I do not have the time to think beyond the immediate
moment," he says, stifling a tired yawn.
If this is the fatigued producer speaking, the character too demanded
a lot from the actor, especially losing hair and weight (some 6-7 kg)
and gaining both back for the pre and post-AIDS look. "We did not
shoot at a linear stretch."
Suri is thankful to his cast for being "so supportive". Speaking of
the other Bengali connection in the film, Victor Banerjee, he points
out that he was perfect for the role "being such a good actor and not
completely overexposed". "You have seen just a bit of him in Bhoot."
Victor himself is eagerly awaiting the release. "My Brother Nikhil is
the muted expression of a very sensitive director, and I would love to
see it succeed in the hearts and minds of those who go to see it."
The success of Black and Page 3 has been reassuring. "It seems people
are ready for new-age Indian cinema," is what both Onir and Suri say.
New age My Brother Nikhil is, with just one song. As the swimmer takes
to the high seas, whether the fickle movie-going public takes the
plunge into meaningful cinema again, is what we have to watch out for.
The women Sania has to beat
[Sports News] This is another major step for Sania as the Tier 1 tournament belongs to the level next only to the Grand Slams.
The NASDAQ-100 Open is currently the largest tournament in the world with Title Sponsorship. Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain is the first woman Sania will take on in the singles first round of the Nasdaq-100 Open WTA Tour. Maria is currently ranked at number 88.
If Sania Mirza clears the first two rounds of the tournament, she could run into reigning French Open champion, and currently at world number five - Anastasia Myskina of Russia.
Jelena Jankovic, who defeated Sania Mirza in the Dubai Opens last month will also be playing in the Nasdaq Open tournament. Jelena who belongs to Serbia and Montenegro, is currently ranked at number 20.In the Nasdaq-100 Open, Sania is in the top half of the draw which also includes current and former world number ones as Amelie Mauresmo of France as the top seed and Kim Clijsters of Belgium amongst others.
The winner of the Women's singles of the tournament wins a prize money of $400,000
Sania Mirza is currently ranked at number 77 in the singles. It was her win at the Hyderabad WTA that brought her amongst the top 100. She is the first Indian to win a singles event on the WTA tour.
Sania entered the tournament on a wildcard entry and played the finals with a heavily bandaged thigh.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Atlas Cycles signs on Suniel Shetty and Sania Mirza as brand ambassadors
Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd., India’s leading bicycle maker has signed on noted filmstar, Suniel Shetty and the Wimbledon Jr. Champion Sania Mirza as brand ambassadors for its range of bicycles. Suniel Shetty with his mass appeal will endorse the company’s Standard Roadster range of bicycles. Sania Mirza who will be seen for the first time in an advertisement will be endorsing the Atlas Women’s range of bicycles.
Commenting on signing on the two brand ambassadors, Mr Gautam Kapoor, Jt. President, Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd. said, "Atlas Cycles is proud to be associated with Suniel Shetty and Sania Mirza. Both are extremely talented and highly regarded role models who are continually striving to excel further in their respective fields. We at Atlas Cycles also believe in the same values and hope that this association will help us to further reach out to our customers across all age groups and segments." he print and electronic advertising campaigns with Suniel Shetty are being created by India’s leading advertising agency Leo Burnett. The first series of ads for the company’s new range of roadster Samrat will be unveiled later this month. The advertising campaign for the Women’s bicycle range with Sania Mirza namely Atlas Swan would be viewed very shortly.
Commenting on his association with Atlas Cycles, Suniel Shetty said, " The first bicycle I rode as a child was an Atlas and the brand has been close to my heart since then. It feels good to be associated with such an enduring brand with the ability to positively touch millions of people around India. I believe in Atlas's commitment to blend the traditional and the modern by offering affordable bicycles in all categories."
"Suniel Shetty apart from endorsing the Roadster Samrat would also feature in Atlas Cycles major brand GOLDLINE SUPER." said Mr. Anuj Gupta, DGM Marketing & Communication, Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Ltd.
According to Sania Mirza, " I am happy to be associated with Atlas Cycles, one of the top bicycle producing companies in the world. The Company’s philosophy and spirit of ‘Racing Ahead Of Times’ has impressed me a lot."
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Sania to take on Spaniard in 1st round at Miami
New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) Sania Mirza will take on Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain in the singles first round of the 3.1-million dollar Nadaq-100 Open WTA Tour tennis event in Miami, USA.
The main draw matches begin tomorrow.
It will be another major step for the 18-year old Hyderabadi girl as the Tier 1 tournament belongs to the level next only to the Grand Slams.
The Florida event, with a draw size of 128, will be played alongside its ATP Tour equivalent, the Tennis Masters Series. It will be one of the strongest fields with 18 of the top 20 players competing.
Sania, for whom it will be only her second event at this level after the Dubai Open early this month where she lost in the quarterfinals, said her inured ankle felt much better now.
"The ankle is 80 percent fit, and I have been able train well," Sania, the first Indian woman to win a WTA title, told PTI.
Sania is in the top half of the draw which also includes current and former world number ones, Amelie Mauresmo of France as the top seed and Kim Clijsters of Belgium, her Dubai Open vanquisher Jelena Jankovic.
Should she survive the first two rounds, Sania could run into reigning French Open champion, world number five Anastasia Myskina. PTI
The main draw matches begin tomorrow.
It will be another major step for the 18-year old Hyderabadi girl as the Tier 1 tournament belongs to the level next only to the Grand Slams.
The Florida event, with a draw size of 128, will be played alongside its ATP Tour equivalent, the Tennis Masters Series. It will be one of the strongest fields with 18 of the top 20 players competing.
Sania, for whom it will be only her second event at this level after the Dubai Open early this month where she lost in the quarterfinals, said her inured ankle felt much better now.
"The ankle is 80 percent fit, and I have been able train well," Sania, the first Indian woman to win a WTA title, told PTI.
Sania is in the top half of the draw which also includes current and former world number ones, Amelie Mauresmo of France as the top seed and Kim Clijsters of Belgium, her Dubai Open vanquisher Jelena Jankovic.
Should she survive the first two rounds, Sania could run into reigning French Open champion, world number five Anastasia Myskina. PTI
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Sania Mirza new brand ambassador of Tata Teleservices, chance to meet her in person
India News, Hyderabad, March 17 (IANS) Tennis sensation Sania Mirza Thursday became the new brand ambassador of Tata Teleservices Limited, a leading private telecom company, joining the league of cricket stars Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan.
This was the fifth endorsement for Sania, who earlier signed with GVK, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Lotto and Malabar Gold, a Kerala-based leading jewellery firm.
Sania, who received dozens of offers after her performance at the Australian Open, her maiden WTA title at Hyderabad last month and an impressive performance in the Dubai Open, is also the ambassador of the girl child campaign of the Andhra Pradesh government and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh.
Now at 77 in the WTA rankings, Sania will be brand ambassador for Tata Teleservices for a year but company officials hoped the association would continue for a long time.
"It is a matter of pride for me to be associated with this group in the company of such great sportsmen. It is obviously an honour for me," Sania said.
"As soon as I come to know that this is becoming a hindrance, I think that will be the last endorsement I will be doing," she said, when asked whether so many endorsements would affect her game.
Coinciding with Thursday's announcement, Tata Indicom launched the limited edition "Signature Series" handset called "Sania Fone" and "Sourav Fone".
"Sourav Fone", available on KX 444, has been priced at Rs.2,449, while "Sania Fone", available on LG 5235, has been priced at Rs.4,999. Buyers will also get a chance to participate in contests.
Winners of "Sania Fone" will be entitled to a meeting with her while winners of "Sourav Fone" will be entitled to a dinner with the Indian cricket captain.
Prabhat Pani, chief operating officer of Tata Teleservices, said Sania was chosen as the ambassador for the brand as she represented the youth, energy and success.
He said Tata Teleservices, which is in fixed line and mobile telephony, has its presence in 20 cities and 1,000 towns across the country with a subscriber base of 3.5 million.
http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=153663
This was the fifth endorsement for Sania, who earlier signed with GVK, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Lotto and Malabar Gold, a Kerala-based leading jewellery firm.
Sania, who received dozens of offers after her performance at the Australian Open, her maiden WTA title at Hyderabad last month and an impressive performance in the Dubai Open, is also the ambassador of the girl child campaign of the Andhra Pradesh government and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh.
Now at 77 in the WTA rankings, Sania will be brand ambassador for Tata Teleservices for a year but company officials hoped the association would continue for a long time.
"It is a matter of pride for me to be associated with this group in the company of such great sportsmen. It is obviously an honour for me," Sania said.
"As soon as I come to know that this is becoming a hindrance, I think that will be the last endorsement I will be doing," she said, when asked whether so many endorsements would affect her game.
Coinciding with Thursday's announcement, Tata Indicom launched the limited edition "Signature Series" handset called "Sania Fone" and "Sourav Fone".
"Sourav Fone", available on KX 444, has been priced at Rs.2,449, while "Sania Fone", available on LG 5235, has been priced at Rs.4,999. Buyers will also get a chance to participate in contests.
Winners of "Sania Fone" will be entitled to a meeting with her while winners of "Sourav Fone" will be entitled to a dinner with the Indian cricket captain.
Prabhat Pani, chief operating officer of Tata Teleservices, said Sania was chosen as the ambassador for the brand as she represented the youth, energy and success.
He said Tata Teleservices, which is in fixed line and mobile telephony, has its presence in 20 cities and 1,000 towns across the country with a subscriber base of 3.5 million.
http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=153663
Tata Indicom launches Sania Fone
Press Trust of India / New Delhi March 17, 2005
Tennis star Sania Mirza has been roped in by Tata Indicom with the launch of a limited edition, signature series of handsets called Sania Fone.
Prabhat Pani, COO of AP and Karnataka circle of Tata Teleservices, said: "The youth is a big market for Tata Indicom, and the launch of Sania Fone is one such effort to connect with this segment."
The contracts of Sania are being managed by the Bangalore-based Globosport, which also manages the deals of Zaheer Khan and Saif Ali Khan.
Tennis star Sania Mirza has been roped in by Tata Indicom with the launch of a limited edition, signature series of handsets called Sania Fone.
Prabhat Pani, COO of AP and Karnataka circle of Tata Teleservices, said: "The youth is a big market for Tata Indicom, and the launch of Sania Fone is one such effort to connect with this segment."
The contracts of Sania are being managed by the Bangalore-based Globosport, which also manages the deals of Zaheer Khan and Saif Ali Khan.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Injury free Sania raring to go for Nasdaq Open
 |
Sports News, After receiving a wild-card to play in her maiden Tier I WTA event, Sania Mirza on Tuesday said she would take part in the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami, Florida, as an "injury-free player".
The 19-year-old, who was recuperating from an ankle injury that began to trouble her at the Australian Open, received a wild card to play in the $3 million tournament starting on March 23. "My injury is okay and the ankle is much better. I will be going to this tournament as an injury-free player," Sania said.
Sania, who created history becoming the first Indian to win a WTA Open at Hyderabad after showing her prowess by reaching the third round of Australian Open, would leave for the USA on March 19 and was confident of putting up a good show. The Hyderabad girl said she did not make any special preparation for this tournament and she would be going without much expectation as it was a Tier I event with the world's best in action.
"I will play my game and try to progress as far as I could," she said even as her family members were busy looking after her mother Nseema who underwent a surgery on Tuesday. Sania's father Imran Mirzahttp://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=151185
Monday, March 14, 2005
SANIA MIRZA wta tour profile
|  © |
 | ||
| YTD | Career |
| WTA Tour singles titles | 1 | 1 |
| WTA Tour doubles titles | 0 | 1 |
| ITF Women's Circuit singles titles | 0 | 12 |
| ITF Women's Circuit doubles titles | 0 | 4 |
| Prize Money | $78,339 | $124,779 |
| Win Loss Record - Singles | 10-3 | 106-23 |
| Win Loss Record - Doubles | 1-1 | 51-23 |
| WTA Ranking History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season-Ending Singles | 2004-206; 2003-399; 2002-837; 2001-987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career-High Singles | No. 77 (March 7, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career-High Doubles | No. 166 (October 25, 2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clothing/Equipment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Racquet: | Head | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Shoes: | adidas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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sania brand ambassador of a Kerala-based jewellery outlet
MUMBAI: Teenage tennis sensation Sania Mirza is the brand ambassador of a Kerala-based jewellery outlet.
"I have signed up to be the brand ambassador of Malabar gold. This is my second endorsement deal after Lotto (Italian sportswear company). A few more are in the pipeline," she said.
However, she refused to give any details of the financial terms and conditions of the deal that she has signed.
Sania, who did not actually sashay down the catwalk despite expectations, said, "I have signed up to be the brand ambassador of Malabar Gold. This is my second endorsement deal after Lotto (the Italian sportswear company). A few more are in the pipeline." However, she refused to give any details of the financial terms and conditions of the deal that she has signed. "I have been spending Rs. 25-30 lakh annualy over the last few years for my tennis," she added, as if justifying her decision to go the corporate way like Sachin Tendulkar. The retail chain of Malabar Gold showcases a wide range of gold, diamond, platinum jewellery and an international array of Swiss watches, featuring brand names Rado, Omega, Tissot and Longines. It is endorsed by Kerala superstar Mohanlal.
"I have signed up to be the brand ambassador of Malabar gold. This is my second endorsement deal after Lotto (Italian sportswear company). A few more are in the pipeline," she said.
However, she refused to give any details of the financial terms and conditions of the deal that she has signed.
Sania, who did not actually sashay down the catwalk despite expectations, said, "I have signed up to be the brand ambassador of Malabar Gold. This is my second endorsement deal after Lotto (the Italian sportswear company). A few more are in the pipeline." However, she refused to give any details of the financial terms and conditions of the deal that she has signed. "I have been spending Rs. 25-30 lakh annualy over the last few years for my tennis," she added, as if justifying her decision to go the corporate way like Sachin Tendulkar. The retail chain of Malabar Gold showcases a wide range of gold, diamond, platinum jewellery and an international array of Swiss watches, featuring brand names Rado, Omega, Tissot and Longines. It is endorsed by Kerala superstar Mohanlal.
Sania's CNBC interview on sunday 13-03-2005
Sania was the guest of honour on saturday's CNBC'S programmed 'Master
Strokes' alongsides Tariq Ansar of Mid-Day Newspaper. As usual, Sania
looked beautiful and gleefuly answered to all the questions raised.
The show was hosted by Udayan Mukherjee.
Sania commented that she has always a goal in her mind, and her
actions are pre-planned. At the start of 2005 session, Sania revealed
that she was looking to get her rankings as near to the 50th
position. Sania added that she takes one step at a time, and is more
than happy to be play a wait and watch game.
Sania expressed her desire to play with Serena Williams once more as
she felt that she learnt a whole lot of things from the Australian
Open match.Commenting about Sveltna Kuznetsova's match, Sania said
she never thought she would defeat the world no.7 so easily. Sania
was suffering from mild fever, and the victory seem to make her more
than elated.
Drawing her comparison to other tennis stars, Sania admitted that she
was physically much weaker than them. Sania howewver, added that she
was cautious of the matter that strenous activities might hamper her
health once more.
Strokes' alongsides Tariq Ansar of Mid-Day Newspaper. As usual, Sania
looked beautiful and gleefuly answered to all the questions raised.
The show was hosted by Udayan Mukherjee.
Sania commented that she has always a goal in her mind, and her
actions are pre-planned. At the start of 2005 session, Sania revealed
that she was looking to get her rankings as near to the 50th
position. Sania added that she takes one step at a time, and is more
than happy to be play a wait and watch game.
Sania expressed her desire to play with Serena Williams once more as
she felt that she learnt a whole lot of things from the Australian
Open match.Commenting about Sveltna Kuznetsova's match, Sania said
she never thought she would defeat the world no.7 so easily. Sania
was suffering from mild fever, and the victory seem to make her more
than elated.
Drawing her comparison to other tennis stars, Sania admitted that she
was physically much weaker than them. Sania howewver, added that she
was cautious of the matter that strenous activities might hamper her
health once more.
Wild cards for Sania in NASDAQ Open
Hyderabad:Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza and Indian-born US
player Neha Uberoi have been given wild cards in the $3,115,000 tier-
1 NASDAQ-100 Open tennis championship to be held at Miami, Florida
from March 23 to April 3.
Jessica Kirkland (USA), Sesil Karatantcheva (Bul), Angela Haynes
(USA), Viktoriya Kutuzova (Ukr), Anna Tatishvili (Gwo), Jamea Jackson
(USA), are the other wild cards.
Top players including Serina Williams (USA), Maria Sharapova (Rus),
Amelie Mauresmo (Fra), Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus), Anastasia Myskina
(Rus) and Elena Dementieva have confirmed their entry in this
tournament.
After winning a tier-3 WTA title Hyderabad Open in front of the home
crowd and reaching the quarterfinal of tier-2 WTA event Dubai Open,
this was definitely going to be a big challenge for the ''Hyderabad
Pearl,'' who recently bagged good commercial endorsements.
The 77th ranked Sania said, ''this is the big event after the
Australia Open in which I took part. All most all top players are in
the fray. I wouldn't say that I will win the title, but winning
couple of matches is my motto. I am making some space in between
other engagements for training, hoping to put up better performance
and ultimately I should reach my target of top 50 as soon as
possible."
Indian tennis fans are also hoping Sania to win couple of good
matches, especially in the back drop of she resisting Serina Williams
in the third round of Australia Open, beating 66th ranked Russian
Maria Kirilenko in the semifinals of Hydrabad Open and beating
another Russian and seventh ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second
round of Dubai tennis championships.
She has started this year with breaking in to top 200 reaching 77th
rank playing just three tournaments. This was a tremendous
improvement for the tennis teen, who was well on her target of
reaching top 50.
player Neha Uberoi have been given wild cards in the $3,115,000 tier-
1 NASDAQ-100 Open tennis championship to be held at Miami, Florida
from March 23 to April 3.
Jessica Kirkland (USA), Sesil Karatantcheva (Bul), Angela Haynes
(USA), Viktoriya Kutuzova (Ukr), Anna Tatishvili (Gwo), Jamea Jackson
(USA), are the other wild cards.
Top players including Serina Williams (USA), Maria Sharapova (Rus),
Amelie Mauresmo (Fra), Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus), Anastasia Myskina
(Rus) and Elena Dementieva have confirmed their entry in this
tournament.
After winning a tier-3 WTA title Hyderabad Open in front of the home
crowd and reaching the quarterfinal of tier-2 WTA event Dubai Open,
this was definitely going to be a big challenge for the ''Hyderabad
Pearl,'' who recently bagged good commercial endorsements.
The 77th ranked Sania said, ''this is the big event after the
Australia Open in which I took part. All most all top players are in
the fray. I wouldn't say that I will win the title, but winning
couple of matches is my motto. I am making some space in between
other engagements for training, hoping to put up better performance
and ultimately I should reach my target of top 50 as soon as
possible."
Indian tennis fans are also hoping Sania to win couple of good
matches, especially in the back drop of she resisting Serina Williams
in the third round of Australia Open, beating 66th ranked Russian
Maria Kirilenko in the semifinals of Hydrabad Open and beating
another Russian and seventh ranked Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second
round of Dubai tennis championships.
She has started this year with breaking in to top 200 reaching 77th
rank playing just three tournaments. This was a tremendous
improvement for the tennis teen, who was well on her target of
reaching top 50.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Sania’s dad finds fault with tennis skirts - Call for indian dress code
Papa Mirza has a problem — with shooting star Sania’s short skirts and shorter
shorts
Imran is not too happy that pictures of his pretty 18-year-old in all manner of poses and clothes are being splashed all over the front and back pages of newspapers.
Not that the newspapers can be blamed, though. Indian tennis’s latest sensation turns out in the most stunning of outfits: at the Dubai Open quarters earlier this month, she sported tight black shorts and a skin-hugging flaming red tank top, with a matching red visor.
Again at the Hyderabad Open in February, the colours were in place but the combination was reversed: tight black tanktop, red skirt and matching red visor.
But while watching the Hyderabad Open, Imran said, he was shocked his daughter could arouse such madness.
So, the whip has fallen on the tennis dress code: Papa Mirza now wants players’ clothes on court to be cut according to his modest code.
“I wish the dress code for tennis players is made to conform more to the Indian cultural ethos. I wish something is done by the Women’s Tennis Association,” Imran said today.
He claimed many friends — Muslims, Hindus and Christians — had told him the dress code was a “deterrent” preventing them from letting their daughters play tennis.
“I have studied the tennis rule books. It does not say anything about wearing mini skirts and skin-tight tops,” he said, unwittingly touching on the years-old debate on why women tennis players wear skirts and not shorts.
Why the women, and Sania herself, choose to wear skirts is anybody’s guess. Nowhere in the WTA rules are skirts mentioned: they forbid sweatshirts, sweat pants, T-shirts, jeans and cut-offs but do not touch on skirts.
“I need to talk to Sania on the subject first,” Imran said. “I have found that many players wear full sleeves and bigger skirts. Slovak Daniela Hantuchova is an example.”
Sania was not available for comment today. But in a recent interview to a television channel, she had said: “Maybe the dresses I wear are not exactly right, but I guess Islam does have forgiveness. I don’t know if I am doing anything wrong… I am sure God will forgive me.”
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Sania’s choice for coach
MUMBAI, March 8. —Sania Mirza, who is in the process of selecting a
personal coach, has stressed that she is looking for a person whom she
can not only personally vibe with but who must also combine tennis
acumen with a knowledge of fitness and strength training.
This, she has stressed, is essential in order to build herself up to
take on the big hitters of women's tennis.
Sania, however, did not disclose the name of the candidate, adding
that the announcement would be made through her agent shortly.
The tennis star was invited to inaugurate a cricket academy at a
social club in the eastern suburbs last night.
The 18-year-old player from Hyderabad also allayed fears about her
injured ankle by claiming that the injury was not as bad as she
thought and she would resume practice in two-three days' time.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Publication devoted to Sania Mirza
Friday, March 11, 2005 (Kolkata):The nation's 'Sania Mania' reached a new high today with the first publication entirely devoted to the teenage tennis sensation Sania Mirza hitting the stands.
The 48-page Bengali booklet Sania Sania includes a long interview with the 18-year old girl, who has pleasantly surprised the country's tennis buffs recently by winning the WTA tournament in Hyderabad after becoming the first ever Indian woman to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Among those who paid glowing tributes to Sania's exploits in the publication were former Davis Cuppers Naresh Kumar, Jaidip Mukerjea and Subroto Bose and celebrated coach Akhtar Ali.
The booklet, published by Satyajug Prakasahn, has also incorporated comments by Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly and national soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia on the rise of Sania Mirza. (PTI)
The 48-page Bengali booklet Sania Sania includes a long interview with the 18-year old girl, who has pleasantly surprised the country's tennis buffs recently by winning the WTA tournament in Hyderabad after becoming the first ever Indian woman to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Among those who paid glowing tributes to Sania's exploits in the publication were former Davis Cuppers Naresh Kumar, Jaidip Mukerjea and Subroto Bose and celebrated coach Akhtar Ali.
The booklet, published by Satyajug Prakasahn, has also incorporated comments by Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly and national soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia on the rise of Sania Mirza. (PTI)
Sania to power HPCL's retail thrust:
Mumbai, Mar 11 : Tennis icon Sania Mirza was today roped in by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) for endorsement of its retail brands.
"HPCL is working out a synergy with Mirza who is currently ranked 77 in the world as per the latest WTA rankings. It revolves around her youthful personality and vibrancy of our brands," HPCL director-Marketing S P Choudhary told reporters here at a function to introduce Mirza as their brand ambassador.
Mirza would promote HPCL's brands for the next two years.
"We are confident that this blend will go a long way in making our brands more popular in consumers' mind," he said.
HPCL has mega brands including CLub HP, Power, Turbojet, HP Milcy, HP Racer, HP Champion and HP Gas in its portfolio.
A tripartite agreement was signed today between HPCL, Mirza and Globosport, a Bangalore-based celebrity management company. PTI
"HPCL is working out a synergy with Mirza who is currently ranked 77 in the world as per the latest WTA rankings. It revolves around her youthful personality and vibrancy of our brands," HPCL director-Marketing S P Choudhary told reporters here at a function to introduce Mirza as their brand ambassador.
Mirza would promote HPCL's brands for the next two years.
"We are confident that this blend will go a long way in making our brands more popular in consumers' mind," he said.
HPCL has mega brands including CLub HP, Power, Turbojet, HP Milcy, HP Racer, HP Champion and HP Gas in its portfolio.
A tripartite agreement was signed today between HPCL, Mirza and Globosport, a Bangalore-based celebrity management company. PTI
Thursday, March 10, 2005
A lakh for a girl child in Sania state - ysr launches drive to improve sex ratio
 |
| Sania Mirza walks the ramp as brand ambassador of a gold jewellery chain in Mumbai on Wednesday. |
[India News]: Hyderabad: Sania Mirza’s success may spell survival for girl children in Andhra Pradesh, which has offered Rs 1 lakh to families with just one daughter in a bid to balance the sex ratio.
Eighteen-year-old Sania, the first Indian woman to enter the third round of a Grand Slam and a Hyderabad native, will champion the cause. Appointed the “state ambassador of the girl child”, she will feature on billboards with the caption: “Your daughter may be the next champion”.
“It is a shame that in our country we ascertain the sex of the baby before it enters the world,” chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy said while announcing the incentive on Tuesday on International Women’s Day.
He also promised stringent measures against the sex determination laboratories mushrooming in the state. “These labs encourage female foeticide and/or illegal sale of girl children to unauthorised agencies,” he said.
Five years ago, Andhra, where the sex ratio is 943 females to 1,000 males, was rocked by a child-adoption racket in which tribals from backward regions sold their infant daughters to illegal adoption agencies.
“Over 500 girl children acquired by such agencies were finally lodged in government baby centres,” said G.D. Aruna, director of the state’s women and child welfare department.
India, with 927 females to 1,000 males as per the 2001 census, has one of the lowest sex ratios in the world, according to the UN population agency (UNFPA). This is down from 945-to-1,000 more than a decade ago.
“This initiative is to ensure continuation of girls in schools and junior colleges,” health secretary C.B.S Venkata Ramana said
http://www.keralanext.com/news/?id=145499
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Sania sermon to moneybags on womens day
Mumbai: Had it not been for Sania Mirza, Women’s Day this year would be the same as last. Or Women’s Day as observed by the Confederation of Indian Industry.
At the CII women’s conference held today at a suburban hotel in Mumbai, women achievers from the corporate world congregated for the second consecutive year.
But since they are limited in number and tend to get recycled every Woman’s Day on the same platforms, Sania, who has climbed to world rank 77 following the Dubai Open, made a difference.
While in previous years, women leaders have held forth on education, employment and empowerment, they had to listen to Sania this time about the necessity of corporate sponsors coming out to fund sports the real way so that more girls like her, or fresh talent like shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore, could come up.
“The right kind of support and training is essential and it is only when companies come forward that we will see more tennis players, more cricket players and more Rathores in the making,” she said.
Sania said she has been “plain lucky” to be sponsored at 13 when she was a non-entity. “Today, there are more companies coming forward to sponsor, not necessarily because they are interested in the sport but more for the mileage they would earn out of it,” she added.
Now the fear is that things won’t change and Sania will make the same speech next year.
For women who usually don’t get to speak at CII events there was hope from an unlikely corner. Central Railway, acting on a suggestion from an NGO, agreed to instal more lights at stations to ensure women’s safety.
The eve of Women’s Day was a day off from work for some women from the red-light areas in south Mumbai, who went on a picnic with an NGO.
But for most others, the day will probably be the same.
J.W. Marriott is again the venue for an event that will draw a pool of women achievers from showbiz.
The same who’s who from the entertainment world — Diya Mirza, Zeenat Aman, Mahima Chaudhuri, Yukta Mookhey and Smriti Irani — will grace the party.
At the CII women’s conference held today at a suburban hotel in Mumbai, women achievers from the corporate world congregated for the second consecutive year.
But since they are limited in number and tend to get recycled every Woman’s Day on the same platforms, Sania, who has climbed to world rank 77 following the Dubai Open, made a difference.
While in previous years, women leaders have held forth on education, employment and empowerment, they had to listen to Sania this time about the necessity of corporate sponsors coming out to fund sports the real way so that more girls like her, or fresh talent like shooter Rajyavardhan Rathore, could come up.
“The right kind of support and training is essential and it is only when companies come forward that we will see more tennis players, more cricket players and more Rathores in the making,” she said.
Sania said she has been “plain lucky” to be sponsored at 13 when she was a non-entity. “Today, there are more companies coming forward to sponsor, not necessarily because they are interested in the sport but more for the mileage they would earn out of it,” she added.
Now the fear is that things won’t change and Sania will make the same speech next year.
For women who usually don’t get to speak at CII events there was hope from an unlikely corner. Central Railway, acting on a suggestion from an NGO, agreed to instal more lights at stations to ensure women’s safety.
The eve of Women’s Day was a day off from work for some women from the red-light areas in south Mumbai, who went on a picnic with an NGO.
But for most others, the day will probably be the same.
J.W. Marriott is again the venue for an event that will draw a pool of women achievers from showbiz.
The same who’s who from the entertainment world — Diya Mirza, Zeenat Aman, Mahima Chaudhuri, Yukta Mookhey and Smriti Irani — will grace the party.
Sania eyes clay play pre-French Open
Mumbai: Admitting that clay is not her favourite surface, tennis sensation Sania Mirza on Monday said that she will play some tournaments on clay before the French open.
"Clay is not my favourite surface but I will be playing some tournaments so that I will be in perfect shape for the French Open", Sania told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
"As far as playing on grass is concerned I have won junior Wimbledon (doubles) title and I think that will not be a major problem", Sania said.
She said that she was working on her aim to be in top 50 WTA rankings by year end. On her ankle which she twisted at the Dubai Open, Sania said "my ankle is not that bad as I thought. I have been advised some rest but I think it will be fine and I might start playing again within a week."
About tournaments in which she will be participating, Sania, currently ranked 77th in the world following her quarterfinal appearance at the Dubai Open, said she will be playing at Miami later this month and go to France to play some tournaments before tuning up for the Federartion Cup in Delhi.
On her high-profile match with former World No 1 Serena Williams in the third round of Australian open, Sania said, "I felt a bit nervous before entering the court which is natural for an youngster who is facing player of Serena's calibre. But as the match progressed, I became more confident."
"Clay is not my favourite surface but I will be playing some tournaments so that I will be in perfect shape for the French Open", Sania told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
"As far as playing on grass is concerned I have won junior Wimbledon (doubles) title and I think that will not be a major problem", Sania said.
She said that she was working on her aim to be in top 50 WTA rankings by year end. On her ankle which she twisted at the Dubai Open, Sania said "my ankle is not that bad as I thought. I have been advised some rest but I think it will be fine and I might start playing again within a week."
About tournaments in which she will be participating, Sania, currently ranked 77th in the world following her quarterfinal appearance at the Dubai Open, said she will be playing at Miami later this month and go to France to play some tournaments before tuning up for the Federartion Cup in Delhi.
On her high-profile match with former World No 1 Serena Williams in the third round of Australian open, Sania said, "I felt a bit nervous before entering the court which is natural for an youngster who is facing player of Serena's calibre. But as the match progressed, I became more confident."
Ankle injury not as bad as I thought: Sania
Mumbai: India's latest tennis sensation Sania Mirza on Monday dispelled worries about her ankle injury, saying that the injury is was not as bad she had thought it would be and she would be able to start training in 2-3 days' time.
Sania was speaking after inaugurating a state of the art bowling machine, the Acres Club, along with cricketer Sandeep Patil.
Replying to a question Sania said her immediate goal was to break into the top 50 by this year's end.
The player, currently ranked 77th on the WTA, also hinted that she was in the process of finalising a coach, though, she refused to take any names.
She said that she was looking for a coach with whom she could be comfortable with and he should know a bit more about fitness.
Warning parents against pushing their wards too soon, she said for the first few years the child should have fun on the courts and only after that if one saw potential should they approach some coaches to test the child.
On her biggest strengths, she said, ''It is the support of my family and friends, without that I would not have reached here.'' She said that for tennis to overtake cricket in this country would be near impossible as cricket has become a religion in the country.
''I also like cricket with Sachin Tendulkar being my favourite player,'' she revealed.
On her future tournaments, Sania said she would be playing in the Maimi Open beginning March 17 and then move to France before returning home for the Fed Cup matches.
Sania was speaking after inaugurating a state of the art bowling machine, the Acres Club, along with cricketer Sandeep Patil.
Replying to a question Sania said her immediate goal was to break into the top 50 by this year's end.
The player, currently ranked 77th on the WTA, also hinted that she was in the process of finalising a coach, though, she refused to take any names.
She said that she was looking for a coach with whom she could be comfortable with and he should know a bit more about fitness.
Warning parents against pushing their wards too soon, she said for the first few years the child should have fun on the courts and only after that if one saw potential should they approach some coaches to test the child.
On her biggest strengths, she said, ''It is the support of my family and friends, without that I would not have reached here.'' She said that for tennis to overtake cricket in this country would be near impossible as cricket has become a religion in the country.
''I also like cricket with Sachin Tendulkar being my favourite player,'' she revealed.
On her future tournaments, Sania said she would be playing in the Maimi Open beginning March 17 and then move to France before returning home for the Fed Cup matches.
Sania urges corporates to encourage sportspersons
Teenage tennis sensation Sania Mirza yesterday urged corporates to take initiatives and sponsor talented sportpersons in order to ensure that more athletes could come to the forefront.Teenage tennis sensation Sania Mirza yesterday urged corporates to take initiatives and sponsor talented sportpersons in order to ensure that more athletes could come to the forefront.
"The right kind of support and training is essential and it is only when corporates come forward that we will see more tennis players, more cricket players and more Rathores in the making," she said while speaking on the eve of Women's Day at a conference, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries' women's wing, here yesterday. "I have just been plain lucky," she said while tackling a question on the support she received from the corporate sector in the nascent phase of the 18-year-old's career. Hyderabad-based Sania created history by becoming the first Indian woman tennis player to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event during the Australian Open earlier this year before adding another footnote by winning the WTA Hyderabad Open. "I was lucky that I was sponsored at the age of 13 when I was a non-entity. Today, there are more corporates coming forward to sponsor not necessarily because they are interested in the sport but more for mileage they would earn out of it," Sania said.
Agreeing to a participants' view point that way back in 1970s corporate sponsorship was not heard of nor were women athletes taken seriously, she said "Now times have changed. People are looking beyond cricket. Sport now does not only mean cricket but we need to have some patience before all sports get the desired support and sponsorship", Sania, who reached the quarter-final of the Dubai Open tournament last week, said. Sania, however, reminded the audience that she did not receive all the support from the government, people and the media just because she was a woman,"they did not have pity on me for being a woman but supported me because they knew I had the talent to make it bid. Refusing to accept the gender discrimination, she said, "I do not know why there is such a big issue being made out of being a man or a woman. An achiever is a achiever, irrespective of the fact that whether he is a man or a woman and I personally think that a woman can do as well as a man." On being a role model to thousands of aspiring teenagers, she said, "I have realised the responsibility of being a noticed sportswoman. Everything from my nosering to my sunglasses to my behaviour and my play is being noticed. However, I would rather have people noticing my game than my nosering and my sunglasses."
"The right kind of support and training is essential and it is only when corporates come forward that we will see more tennis players, more cricket players and more Rathores in the making," she said while speaking on the eve of Women's Day at a conference, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries' women's wing, here yesterday. "I have just been plain lucky," she said while tackling a question on the support she received from the corporate sector in the nascent phase of the 18-year-old's career. Hyderabad-based Sania created history by becoming the first Indian woman tennis player to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event during the Australian Open earlier this year before adding another footnote by winning the WTA Hyderabad Open. "I was lucky that I was sponsored at the age of 13 when I was a non-entity. Today, there are more corporates coming forward to sponsor not necessarily because they are interested in the sport but more for mileage they would earn out of it," Sania said.
Agreeing to a participants' view point that way back in 1970s corporate sponsorship was not heard of nor were women athletes taken seriously, she said "Now times have changed. People are looking beyond cricket. Sport now does not only mean cricket but we need to have some patience before all sports get the desired support and sponsorship", Sania, who reached the quarter-final of the Dubai Open tournament last week, said. Sania, however, reminded the audience that she did not receive all the support from the government, people and the media just because she was a woman,"they did not have pity on me for being a woman but supported me because they knew I had the talent to make it bid. Refusing to accept the gender discrimination, she said, "I do not know why there is such a big issue being made out of being a man or a woman. An achiever is a achiever, irrespective of the fact that whether he is a man or a woman and I personally think that a woman can do as well as a man." On being a role model to thousands of aspiring teenagers, she said, "I have realised the responsibility of being a noticed sportswoman. Everything from my nosering to my sunglasses to my behaviour and my play is being noticed. However, I would rather have people noticing my game than my nosering and my sunglasses."
Sania’s choice for coach
MUMBAI, March 8. —Sania Mirza, who is in the process of selecting a
personal coach, has stressed that she is looking for a person whom she
can not only personally vibe with but who must also combine tennis
acumen with a knowledge of fitness and strength training.
This, she has stressed, is essential in order to build herself up to
take on the big hitters of women's tennis.
Sania, however, did not disclose the name of the candidate, adding
that the announcement would be made through her agent shortly.
The tennis star was invited to inaugurate a cricket academy at a
social club in the eastern suburbs last night.
The 18-year-old player from Hyderabad also allayed fears about her
injured ankle by claiming that the injury was not as bad as she
thought and she would resume practice in two-three days' time.
personal coach, has stressed that she is looking for a person whom she
can not only personally vibe with but who must also combine tennis
acumen with a knowledge of fitness and strength training.
This, she has stressed, is essential in order to build herself up to
take on the big hitters of women's tennis.
Sania, however, did not disclose the name of the candidate, adding
that the announcement would be made through her agent shortly.
The tennis star was invited to inaugurate a cricket academy at a
social club in the eastern suburbs last night.
The 18-year-old player from Hyderabad also allayed fears about her
injured ankle by claiming that the injury was not as bad as she
thought and she would resume practice in two-three days' time.
Monday, March 07, 2005
Sania, Wedded to Tennis
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India’s new tennis queen Sania Mirza is a girl with a past of hard work and determination. She had encountered difficulties in find up money for expensive competitions. It was her parents Imran and Nazeema who stood by her in those trials. The girl beat all obstacles and marched to victory.
Sania is now very clear about her plans. The aim is set and all she wants to do is achieve that. No marriage, no boy friend until then. She recalls several Indian stars lost their chances on the world scene because of early marriage.
Sania was only five when her mother watched Steffi Graf’s performance at Wimbledon finals. Nazeema wished her daughter would be a Steffi Graf one day- Sania’s parents and younger sister are with her in her efforts. In the new home in Hyderabad they are celebrating the Sania victories. She says her parents are interested in her playing tennis happily. Her winning is not the main item on their agenda.
It was her mother who made Sania step into the world of tennis at the age of six. Father was not very keen in the first few months. He thought it was too early for the little girl. Then he too joined the promotional drive.
Sania’s rise to fame was quick. Her early successes were unparalleled. Sponsors aid government came to her aid. Imran drove her every whore.
Sania’s ambitions are many. That’s one reason she has suspended her college education for the time being she pursues studies along with her tennis life.
Every six months, Sania evaluates her performance. Efforts are made to correct her weaknesses. It is again her parents who inspire her. They are more like friends, says Sania. The atmosphere is absolutely favorable to her growth. Whenever she returns home with a new feather is her cap, her sister is waiting for her with ‘Welcome’ banners and balloons all around the house.
Sania was born on November.15, 1986 in Mumbai. Her hobbies are swimming and listening to music. Her favourite food is Biriani.
Steffi Graf is her role model. Sania aims at a position among the top20 in world ranking. The entire nation calibrated when Sania became the first Indian to enter the third round of Australian Open. It was a great opportunity that she got in playing against the legendary Serena Williams. Two years ago, Sania was winner of the Wimbledon Junior doubles title. The triumphant journey is on, with the strong team of her parents behind her. Sania dedicates her victories to them, to God and do her trainers.
Sania Mirza, a first among equals
DUBAI: First Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event. First Indian woman to win a WTA event. First Indian woman to beat a top-10 player.
The list of firsts grows ever longer for Sania Mirza as she continues to rewrite the record books. It may help that India has never had a woman tennis player of any calibre before her, but there is no doubting Sania's talent. Hitting the ball hard from both flanks, the Hyderabadi teenager has a game unlike any other Indian women's tennis player ever. Her forte is not her defensive, retrieving ability or her consistency, but rather, her power from the baseline.
Everything about Sania oozes confidence. Even after being outplayed by Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals, the Indian refused to blame her ankle injury for her poor performance. She had upset No 4 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova despite an ankle injury. "I felt absolutely fine. The defeat had nothing to do with my ankle," she asserted. "It's just that Jelena played a superb match. I think I didn't play that badly, she made me look ordinary."
It's a comment that usually comes out of a mature battle-hardened professional, not someone who is just feeling her way around the circuit.
Her performances have sparked off Sania-mania, not just in India but among Indians settled abroad as well. In Dubai, organisers confessed that giving her a wild-card entry was the most inspired decision they had ever made as droves of Sania fans queued up outside the ticket office days she was slotted to play.
But Sania is aware that the stardom will last only as long as she keeps performing. Mentally, she appears very grounded an determined. "It is very tough to achieve stardom, but it's even tougher to stay at the top. People only see the glamour at the end but there is a lot of hard work that has gone into the making of any top athlete. I have worked 12 years to achieve what I have this year," she says. "Sometimes it all gets a bit too much facing the media all the time and answering the same questions again and again but that's the way it is. This is what I opted for and now I have to deal with it. It's not easy but I can't complain."
The list of firsts grows ever longer for Sania Mirza as she continues to rewrite the record books. It may help that India has never had a woman tennis player of any calibre before her, but there is no doubting Sania's talent. Hitting the ball hard from both flanks, the Hyderabadi teenager has a game unlike any other Indian women's tennis player ever. Her forte is not her defensive, retrieving ability or her consistency, but rather, her power from the baseline.
Everything about Sania oozes confidence. Even after being outplayed by Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals, the Indian refused to blame her ankle injury for her poor performance. She had upset No 4 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova despite an ankle injury. "I felt absolutely fine. The defeat had nothing to do with my ankle," she asserted. "It's just that Jelena played a superb match. I think I didn't play that badly, she made me look ordinary."
It's a comment that usually comes out of a mature battle-hardened professional, not someone who is just feeling her way around the circuit.
Her performances have sparked off Sania-mania, not just in India but among Indians settled abroad as well. In Dubai, organisers confessed that giving her a wild-card entry was the most inspired decision they had ever made as droves of Sania fans queued up outside the ticket office days she was slotted to play.
But Sania is aware that the stardom will last only as long as she keeps performing. Mentally, she appears very grounded an determined. "It is very tough to achieve stardom, but it's even tougher to stay at the top. People only see the glamour at the end but there is a lot of hard work that has gone into the making of any top athlete. I have worked 12 years to achieve what I have this year," she says. "Sometimes it all gets a bit too much facing the media all the time and answering the same questions again and again but that's the way it is. This is what I opted for and now I have to deal with it. It's not easy but I can't complain."
Sania satisfied with her Dubai trip
Dubai, March 4: A day after her dream run came to an abrupt end at the $1 million Dubai Open women's tennis championship, tennis star Sania Mirza took the crushing defeat in her stride and gave full marks to her opponent World No. 28 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Monte-Negro."Tennis is such a game that you win some and lose some. She (Jankovic) played a great match and did not allow me to settle down," Sania told PTI looking back at her 2-6 2-6 defeat in the quarterfinals last night.
The Indian ace, who is sure to move up from her previous world ranking of 97, also brushed aside suggestions that she had a bad day in office.
"I don't think that it was a bad day. Overall, I'm satisfied with the way I had played this week," Sania said. Sania's stunning show here as a wild card saw her ousting world number 36 Jelena Kostanic of Croatia and US Open champion and world number 7 Svetlena Kuznetsova in the first two rounds.
The 18-year-old sounded quite confident and was not at all upset with the way her luck changed. "I may go home tomorrow. But I have not yet decided my plans," she said.
Sania loses, but crowned queen of India
New Delhi, March 4: Although Indian tennis came to a dead stop at the Dubai Open when Sania Mirza lost in the quarters of the Dubai Open to Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, the teenage sensation set the country's imagination ablaze with her performances there.However, earlier, riding on a whirlwind of expectations, Sania justified her wild card entry into the Dubai Open when she blitzed the current US champion Svetlana Kuznetsova with a power game that was both captivating and energising and thereby took India into an area that was untrod heretofore. It filled the Indian vacuum in mega sports that had just one thing to captivate it - cricket.
However, the thirst for variety existed, but sadly (till Sania came along) it remained unquenched for so long after hockey was pronounced dead due to an internal political haemorhaege and soccer never even got off the life-support system. A major factor that has put tennis under the spotlight even further is the fact that a girl, a pretty teenager at that, has achieved so much in so little time. A waif that overnight, turned into a giant-killer.
The story is not that Sania lost, the crux of the Sania Dubai experience is that she has fired-up countless imaginations back home giving a filip to the aspirations of youngsters across all sports, especially tennis.
Sania has shown that an Indian, educated and trained at home, has the weaponry, in terms of intelligence, power and the game, to overcome the best in the world.
This Australian Open (where Sania went down to top ranked Serena Williams) and the Dubai Open are the first few steps to eventual greatness.
The next in line is the most coveted trophy in tennis, Wimbledon. Sania has enough time to overcome her niggling injuries to make a good showing there.
Sania, post-Dubai may be down but certainly not out, but she has walked into the hearts and minds of her countrymen and tennis-lovers across the globe with her giant-killer performance.
In gratitude the nation has embraced the youngster and a billion voices are rooting for her.
‘My game’s OK, I must focus on my fitness’
She threw her racquet in disgust at one point and looked despairingly at her family when she hit the ball wide but despite her loss in the quarters at the Dubai WTA, Sania Mirza seems to be enjoying her tennis. ‘‘I’ve had a fantastic week. I’m very happy with the way I’m hitting the ball. It was just Jelena’s day yesterday’’, Sania said on Friday.
Excerpts from an interview:
ON HER FITNESS: Even the top ranked players have some chinks in their armour. I’m not worried that I didn’t get too many first serves in yesterday, what I really want to focus on is my physical fitness.
ON HER ANKLES: They’ve given me a few problems; they get twisted, swollen and that can really hurt. In the match against Kuznetsova, I was in tears because of the pain. But I didn’t have any problems in my match last night, so I don’t know why my ankle flares up.
ON NEEDING A COACH: We are working on a few options. But I did defeat the world number 6 without a coach, so its not a major problem
ON WHAT’S UP NEXT: I take it one game at a time. I want to break into the top 50 by the end of the year. I’ll be playing the event in Miami next week or the US$75,000 tournament in France.
I need a good looking man: Sania
Dubai, March 3: Long school holidays stretching into the summer led Sania Mirza to find a hobby. Tennis was the winner and now, aged just 18, Mirza is the toast of a billion Indians.The youngster spent those holidays honing a power-packed game -- one which enabled her to become the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour title last month and this week to beat US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. It has vaulted her onto the front pages in her homeland but despite the frenzied praise the teenager remains firmly grounded.
She had never set out to become a millionaire tennis star, merely fell in love with her hobby. "Maybe if I was a guy I would be playing cricket," she told Reuters earlier this week.
"My parents were always very sports-minded. They never wanted me to play tennis professionally, but they wanted their child to play a sport, whatever it was.
"I used to go swimming and passed the tennis courts every day, and that's how it started. My mum said 'Why don't you play tennis in your summer holidays because you have nothing to do except swim for an hour or whatever?', and that's how I started playing.
"And tennis just suited my style and personality."
DISARMINGLY HONEST
It is not uncommon for the Tour's leading lights to wax lyrical about the strength of their forehand or serve or tactical acumen, but Mirza is disarmingly honest about her strengths and weaknesses.
"To be honest, I'm not that fast on my feet," she said. "But I have amazing timing on the ball which is why, although I'm not that strong, I still hit the ball harder than most of the players on the circuit.
"It just suited the way I'm built. Maybe if I played squash or badminton I needed more movement, more reflexes. So, it just happened.
"It wasn't as if we sat down one day and decided I was going to become a professional tennis player. It just happened over a period of time.
"Until I was 12 or 13 it was just fun. We had never thought that I was going to make it. My parents never put any pressure on me, even when I was 10 years old and went to play a match. They never told me I had to win it.
"They always just told me to hit the ball as hard as I can and we'll see what happens."
Nobody could have predicted what would happen.
Earlier this year she became the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a grand slam, before eventually falling to eventual champion Serena Williams at the Australian Open.
POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND
Two weeks later she made history again, beating Russian's Alyona Bonderenko in the final of the Hyderabad Open in front of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to become the first Indian woman to win a Tour event, 46 years after Ramanathan Krishnan became the first Indian man to win a title, at London's Queen's Club.
But success has not come easy and it has taken sacrifice.
"When I was 12 or 13, it was difficult, yes," she said. "I think it's natural to want to do what others your age are doing, so I guess you do have to make some sacrifices.
"I realised that if you don't make those sacrifices I don't think you can make something out of your life and I wouldn't be sitting here now.
"Sometimes I did feel I was missing out, like sometimes I'd want to go to a birthday party but I couldn't because I had tennis at four.
"Or sometimes I'd want to go out for a movie but I couldn't because I had to get up at six every morning. But it doesn't bother me now because I'm very happy with what is happening with my life right now."
Such is her devotion to the sport, she has no time for distractions. She does, however, know what she is looking for in a potential boyfriend.
"He has to be good looking and over six feet tall," she giggled.
"No, on a serious note, I think he needs to understand me and he needs to be a nice person and not have any ego hassles.
"I need a guy who understands me."
Sania's meteoric rise
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I enjoy playing under pressure: Sania
I enjoy playing under pressure: Sania
The Asian Age India | K. Moses
Hyderabad: Sania Mirza may have lost the quarter-final match to Jelena Jankovic on Thursday but has won hearts unlimited with her giant-killing acts at the Dubai Open.
But India's best woman tennis player ever, who fought troublesome ankles and higher ranked opponents to barge through the first two rounds, keeps her feet firmly on the ground.
She gives due credit to the player who ended her dream run. "She was just too good and did not allow me to play my game," Sania told The Asian Age of World number 28 Jankovic. Excerpts:
Q: Where did it go wrong on Thursday?
A: I don't think it went wrong. Just that she just played too well and did not allow me to play my game.
I was trying to do a bit too much because she was not missing anything and was getting her way around. I guess that's why it looked like I was committing a lot of mistakes. But I really don't think I was making that many errors. She was playing so tight and forcing me to go for some extras.
I think she played one of the best matches. I saw her play earlier but she was never as accurate as she was against me... I guess it is one of her days.
Q: Her strong points?
A: She wouldn't let anything get past her. She was getting whatever I threw at her, back on the court. Also, she was going for the lines frequently and was getting on them. She served very good too, blasting the big ones in at the right times.
Q: How bad were your ankles yesterday? How are they now?
A: They were fine but were hurting me a little bit. But it's not gonna heal overnight. I guess I will have to wait for a couple of days to get the exact picture.
Q: Did you expect to get this far when you entered the tournament on a wild card?
A: No, when I came here I was only looking as far as the first round. I never really thought I would make it to the quarterfinals of such a big tournament.
This is the strongest field (the cut-off rank in the main draw being 36) you have played in after the Australian Open. How difficult is life at the top?
It is very tough but I am enjoying every bit of it. I enjoy hard work. I enjoy playing in front of all these people. I enjoy playing under pressure. You know you have to constantly learn and do a bit more than what you used to earlier. Playing at these (big) tournaments teaches you all those things and motivates you to push forward.
Q: How satisfying was the win against reigning US Open champion Kuznetsova?
A: It was a big bonus. It was a great feeling, especially since she is highly ranked player and a Grand Slam champion. I was just lost for words after that win.
Every match you play you have to give your 100 per cent but the drive and motivation to take on Kuznetsova came from my first round win against Kostanic, who is a totally different type of player — a hard hitter of the ball. She is a left-hander who is good at counter-punching and uses her pace cleverly... so to overcome a player of that variety was a good experience for me. My confidence level grew after that match.
Q: You must be very happy with your overall performance in Dubai...
A: Yeah, it feels good to have beaten a top-50 player (Jelena Kostanic) and follow that up with a victory over someone in the top-10 (Svetlana Kuznetsova).
It's been a great year for me... I hope it continues this way.
Q: At 77, you are very close to your renewed target of breaking into the top 50 in world rankings this year. Any plans to further upgrade your goal?
A: No, I would like to hit the target I have set first before thinking of resetting it. For the time being, it's the top 50 on mind.
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