Sania Mirza leaves a huge impression

The Sania Mirza fairytale is unlikely to develop dark shadows — because it is not a fairytale at all.

It is a story of sweat and toil, superlative racquet skills and rare courage in the face of adversity, as we found out on the hallowed lawns of the most famous tennis court in the world on Wednesday.

This much is sure: she is here to stay.

Well, Sania did not exactly say that. But, as the 18-year old Indian, playing in her first Wimbledon in the women's event, made her racquet do all the talking, the message that came through was clear to everyone.

And Sania, world ranked 72, could not have issued a bolder statement on a more revered stage than she did on Wednesday at the spiritual home of tennis against the U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, world ranked No. 5.

Nerveless display

Showing no signs of stage fear, the Hyderabad teenager came up with a nerveless display of attacking tennis, exploding on the ball fearlessly and rocking her Russian opponent, seeded five, on her heels on the baseline.

In the end, Kuznetsova's greater experience and Sania's inability to take her foot off the pedal at the corners made all the difference as the Russian won the second round match 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4 in two hours and 18 minutes.

"Remember the name,'' said the venerable John Barrett on BBC TV at the end of the match. "We are going to hear a lot more about her.''

No fluke

Those who had discounted Sania's straight sets victory over Kuznetsova in the Dubai Duty Free Open earlier this year as a success largely aided by the vocal support she received from the fans would have been forced to revise their opinion. For, rarely has an Indian — man or woman — played with such courage, conviction and shotmaking skills on the Wimbledon centre court as Sania did this afternoon.

Some of Sania's forehand winners took your breath away as she timed her shots to perfection and boldly went for the lines, betraying the instincts of a born gambler.

To be sure, Kuznetsova is no Maria Sharapova. The Russian struggled with her serves and did not seem to have a Plan B when she found out that Sania was feeding on the pace she was being offered with great relish. It was only late in the match that the Russian mixed things up and employed tactics worthy of her status in the game.

Sania started confidently, winning the first two games of the match in only six minutes. Kuznetsova came back to level at 4-4 and then a poor service game from the Indian saw her Russian opponent take the first set.

Sania served for the second set in the 10th game but lost serve before taking control of the tiebreak with a brave forehand crosscourt return winner.

In the decider, Kuznetsova twice broke Sania from 2-2 but the Indian broke back in the eighth game, when the Russian first served for the match. Finally, the fifth seed came up with the shot of the match, a low stab volley on breakpoint and then had to serve at her very best to close out the match in the 10th game.