sania with family 

Cincinnati open 

cincinnati open 

Sania Mirza is the new sensation of world tennis

By John Satish K. NEW DELHI: She wears a nose ring, and several more on her ears, has a hint of baby fat, comes from a conservative Muslim family, and at 18 is well on her way to becoming a sports legend in India, a youth icon, and darling of the world press. With her poster-girl good looks, and a fiery forehand, Sania Mirza is not merely India's new youth icon; she is a rising star in world tennis, raking in accolades and awards and showing all signs of a brilliant future ahead. In the last 18 months, Mirza, whose face now sells everything from gasoline to tea and jewellery, has pushed her WTA (Women's Tennis Association) ratings from below 450 to 70. Among the performances that soared her ranking was Mirza's historic winning of the Hyderabad Open, becoming the first Indian woman to win a WTA event. And prompting Sports Illustrated's powerful Jon Wertheim to write: "How about a Player of the Week award for Sania Mirza?" That such questions would be asked about Sania Mirza has been written since she won the junior women's doubles final at the 2003 Wimbledon.

She began the year as an outsider sitting at No.166 in the WTA Tour rankings, which got her a wild card entry to the Australian Open this January. Once in Melbourne, she took it into her own hands to put Indian women's tennis on the world map. Surviving initial nerves, Sania overcame Cindy Watson 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the first round and then disposed of Petra Mandula 6-2, 6-1 in the second round. Nirupama Vaidyanathan was the only Indian to have gone up to the second round of a Grand Slam when she made it to the second round of the Australian Open in 1988. By now on unchartered territory, Sania came up against the formidable might of eventual title winner Serena Williams going down 1-6, 4-6. As she battled with Williams, point for point, Sania Mirza ingrained herself in the collective consciousness not only of audiences at home but spectators and tennis watchers around the globe. Next up was the Dubai Open, where Mirza found the giant killer in her. She beat Jelena Kostanic and Svetlana Kuznetsova, ranked 63rd and 4th, respectively, before being stopped by 19th ranked Jelena Jankovic in the quarterfinals.

A first round loss in the NASDAQ-100 Open later in March only brought to the surface the bitter fact that she had to stop playing for a while to rest her injured ankle and allow it to recuperate. Mirza had carried the chronic injury through all these tournaments but continued to battle both the pain barrier and opponents with the aid of painkillers. The forced break made her miss the Fed Cup where she was to captain India, but she sat on the sidelines nevertheless, cheering on her teammates. The young player, perhaps the only woman tennis player to sport a nose ring, returned to the action at the French Open, but distaste for the clay surface coupled with a scratchy comeback form resulted in a first round defeat. Mirza's form worries continued to plague her as she began the grass season (a surface that she likes best), with a first round loss at the DFS Classic in Birmingham.

Wimbledon, though, was another story. She clawed her way out of trouble in the first round only to face Svetlana Kuznetsova, a victim in the Dubai Open. With the stage set for the battle to resume, the setting couldn't have been bigger - Centre Court of Wimbledon - the most prestigious tennis venue in the world. Down 4-6 in the first set, and trailing in the second against the more experienced Kuznetsova, Mirza pushed the set to a tiebreak where she prevailed, only to go down fighting in the third and deciding set. Though she lost, Mirza had become the darling of the world press. Wrote The Guardian in an article titled "Magical Mirza: The Centre of Attention": "Mirza once again showed that she is very unusual. She...displayed a boldness, an articulacy and a love of the limelight which has brought predictions of a Bollywood career further down the line.

"...she handled the Centre Court occasion debut with characteristic flair, swiveling into brilliantly struck forehands with astonishing racket-head speed, gradually overcoming her nerves, recovering from her mistakes, making a dramatic surge at the finish, and handling bristling press conferences as though they were a natural extension of her life." The journey to centre court began as a six-year-old when she was turned away from a coaching camp for being too small. A month later, the confounded coach called her parents to say that he had not seen such talent and natural ability. Today, in India, multiple body piercing and all, Sania Mirza is a brand. In the tennis world, she is a new sensation, whose ascent is being watched very carefully as she attempts to fulfil her public vow of breaking into the top 50 by the end of this year. Recently, she was voted second only to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in an MTV poll to select India's youth icon. The great skill of this young Muslim girl from a conservative family in Hyderabad lies in the fact that - guided by Indian tennis champion Mahesh Bhupati (Wimbledon mixed doubles champion this year) - she is doing more than just playing great tennis. In the tradition of champions - she is winning hearts.

After her Wimbledon exit, a veteran commentator on BBC said: "Remember the name - Sania Mirza. We will hear a lot more of her." Declared The Times: "Centre Court will want to see more of the tempestuous teenager breaking the mould of the traditional Indian woman as well as records every time she steps on a court." As Sania Mirza brings to her list of endorsements the same acumen that she applies in hitting a forehand topspin winner, it is clear that this young girl, who defies conservative stereotypes with her micro-skirts and clinging T-shirts, has just begun her ascent. "It does not matter whether you are playing against the fifth seed or the 75th seed, what matters is putting in all your best and playing the game. Rankings keep changing, sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down," says Mirza. Clearly, she knows that its going to get more dizzying. --Indo-Asian News Service

Sania loses to Venus in second round

Sania Mirza's lucky run was cut short by Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the second round of the USD 585,000 Stanford Classic women's singles tournament in Stanford, USA.

Sania, who entered the tournament as lucky loser, crashed out 3-6, 2-6 against the second seeded American in front of the sellout crowd of 4353, in her second hardcourt tune-up for the US Open.

Williams, a two-time title winner here, will next play seventh seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, who beat American Amy Frazier 6-0, 6-3, in the quarter-finals of the Tier II event.

After Sania lost on her service in the game two of the first set, Williams demonstrated her powerful serves and made no mistake in earning easy points against the 18-year-old.

Sania made too many mistakes to stay close against Williams. The American hit three straight aces in her first service game of the second set and broke Sania in the first fifth and seventh game.

"I had a lot of chances and I should have capitalised on them a bit more," said Sania, who is nursing a pulled stomach muscle.

"I think it was much closer than the score suggests. In the second set, I would hit a winner the first point and she would hit three aces. I guess that's why she won Wimbledon, because she plays better on the important points," she said.

Sania entered the draw as lucky loser after America's Chanda Rubin withdrew because of inflammation in her left ankle.

Tennis:Sania moves into second round,sets up clash with Venus

New Delhi: Sania Mirza edged past Eleni Daniilidou of Greece to set up a second round clash with reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in 585,000 dollars Bank of the West Classic WTA Tier II tournament at Stanford, United States.

In a tightly contested match, the Indian won her first round match 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 - according to the information received here.

The 64th ranked Indian, who made it to the main draw after Chanda Rubin pulled out due to ankle injury, won a tightly contested first set which stretched to tie-break.

But the Hydrabadi girl made repeated unforced errors and conceded the set tamely to her opponent only to come back strongly in the third set to overpower the Grecian, ranked 58th in the latest WTA ranking.

Earlier, Sania lost her final qualifying round match against Shahar Peer of Israel 2-6, 6-7, but made it to the main draw as the lucky loser.
Article printed from http://keralanext.com/news/?id=293999

Sania loses, but lucky to enter Stanford main draw

New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) The maxim 'fortune favours the brave' came true for Sania Mirza as she earned a main draw entry as a lucky loser after a heartbreaking defeat in a thrilling final qualifying round at the USD 585,000 WTA Tour event in Standord, USA.

Sania put up a brave fight before going down 2-6 6-7 (10/12) to Israeli Shahar Peer yesterday, but she entered the competition proper after Chanda Rubin pulled out with an ankle inflammation.

Sania will now play wild card Eleni Daniilidou, currently ranked 58th in the world. A win over the Grecian would pit the 18-year old Indian against second seed Venus Williams who has a bye in the first round.

Interestingly, a win over Peer could have set up a repeat clash with German Anna-Lena Groenefeld whom Sania defeated in the first round at Cincinnati. Groenefeld now will tackle Peer in the top half of the draw. PTI

Sania to play final round of qualifiers against Peer

Sania Mirza sailed through first two rounds of qualifying and is now set to meet Israel's Shahar Peer in the final round in the $585,000 WTA tennis tournament in Stanford, USA, the second event in her build-up to the US Open Grand Slam.

The Indian, who climbed up to six places to 64th in the latest WTA rankings after her quarterfinal appearance in Cincinnati last week, pulled off facile victories in the first two qualifying rounds of the tough Tier II event.

Fifth seed Sania defeated Lindsey Lee-Waters of USA, ranked 95, 6-1 6-3 in the second round after a 6-3 6-3 win over Maureen Drake of Canada, ranked 260th, according to information received here today.

Earlier, in the day American-born Indian Shikha Uberoi, and her younger sister Neha Uberoi, who is representing USA, also entered the final qualifying round.

Shikha, ranked 131, upset second seed Jill Craybas of USA, ranked 56, 6-4 6-4 in the second round after her hard fought first round win against Shenay Perry of USA 1-6 7-6 (5) 6-2. She next plays Marissa Irvin of USA.

The 19-year-old Neha, also in top form, defeated her higher rated compatriots Teryn Ashley 6-3 4-6 6-2 and Meilen Tu 7-6 (4) 6-2 to reach the third and final round in the qualifying.

Neha now faces the seventh seed Alina Jidkova Russia, ranked 79.

Sania climbs to career-best 64th ranking

New Delhi, July 25: A fruitful last week in Cincinnati propelled Sania Mirza to a career-best 64th place in the latest WTA ranking released on Monday.Sania climbed up 6 places from her previous best 70th after she reached the quarterfinal of a Tier III WTA event in Cincinnati, where she bowed out to Akiko Morigami of Japan.

The Indian tennis sensation, who first achieved the 70th ranking on May 23, had slipped to 75th place after a six-week injury lay-off but regained the spot after her impressive show at the All England Club.

Sania, who now has a travelling coach John Farrington of Bahamas, aims to break into top 50 by 2006. She is taking part in build-up tournaments ahead of the US Open beginning next month.

Sania beaten in doubles semifinals

Sania Mirza and her Ukranian partner Yuliana Fedak were knocked out of the $170,000 WTA Tour tennis event in Cincinnati, USA as they went down in their doubles semifinal tie to the top-seeded pair of Kveta Peschke and Maria Emilia Salermi in straight sets.

Unseeded Sania and Yuliana lost the tie 5-7, 3-6 on Saturday against the Czech Republic's Kveta and Maria of Argentina, who set up a title clash with third-seeded Laura Granville and Abigail Spears of the US.

Meanwhile, Akiko Morigami stunned fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-4 to book a final showdown against top seed Patty Schnyder, who beat Bethanie Mattek 6-4, 6-1.

Sania-Fedak advance to doubles semis

Sania Mirza and Yuliana Fedak of Ukraine easily advanced into the doubles semifinals of the USD 170,000 WTA Tour tennis event in Cincinnati, the USA.

The duo defeated local favourites Angela Haynes and Bethanie Mattek 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

Sania and Fedak will play Kveta Peschke of Czech Republic and M Emilia Salerni of Argentina in the last four stage match.

Sania goes down to Akiko in Cincinnati

New Delhi, July. 23 (PTI): Sania Mirza crashed out of the USD 170,000 WTA Tour tennis event in Cincinnati, US losing to Japan's Akiko Morigami in the quarterfinals.

The 18-year-old Indian, ranked 70th in the world, lost in straight sets 4-6, 3-6 to Akiko, who had upset second seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia, on Thursday.

The win was sweet revenge for Akiko who had lost to Sania in the first round of Wimbledon hardly a month ago.

In other matches fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, reached the semi-finals with a 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 6-1 triumph over South Korean Yoon Jeong Cho. She will now take on Morigami for a place in the final, according to information received here today.

The other semifinals will be between qualifier Bethanie Mattek, who stunned third seed Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 0-6, 6-2, and top seed Patty Schnyder.

Switzerland's Schnyder defeated Israeli's Shahar Peer 7-6 (7/1), 6-2.

Earlier, Sania Mirza had pulled off a thrilling 7-6 (7/5) 7-5 victory over Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi to advance to the quarterfinals.

In doubles, Sania and Yuliana Fedak of Ukraine, advanced into the semifinals beating local duo Angela Haynes and Bethanie Mattek 6-3, 6-2.

They will play Kveta Peschke of Czech Republic and M Emilia Salerni of Argentina in the semis.

Sania slays Kristina, to meet Morigami in quarterfinals

Sania Mirza claimed yet another higher ranked player when the Indian overcame Puerto Rican Kristina Brandi 7-6 (5) 7-5 in the second round of the 170,000 dollar Cincinnati Open in Ohio.

Currently ranked 70th, Sania faced stiff challenge from the 28-year-old Kristina who fought for each point even though it was the Indian who had the last laugh.

The first set saw both the players making unforced errors galore as it was stretched to tie-breaker, according to information received here. Sania improved her service at the right time and maintained her cool to win the tie-breaker to seize early initiative.

Trailing by a set, Brandi tried everything she could but that was not enough to stop the Hyderabadi girl as Sania hit powerful forehand winners at crucial points and took the game away from the Puerto Rican.

Sania, meanwhile, has a tough task ahead as she takes on an in-form Akiko Morigami of Japan in the quarterfinal.

Morigami stunned second seed Vera Zvonareva in the second round where she swept away the Russian 6-3, 6-2.

Sania, however, would be keen to repeat the history of this year's Wimbledon where she managed to beat the Japanese 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 to taste her first victory at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Sania advance to second round at Cincinnati in doubles

New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) Sania Mirza maintained her winning streak as she notched up a strong doubles victory in the USD 170,000 WTA Tour tennis event in Cincinnati, Ohio, yesterday.
Sania and Ukrainian Yuliana Fedak ousted qualifiers Sybille Bammer of Austria and Jewel Peterson of the US 5-7 6-2 6-0 in the first round.

Sania and Yuliana next face local pair Angela Haynes and Bethanie Mattek who stunned the fourth seeds, Israeli teenager Shahar Peer and Russian Alina Jidkova.

Sania was also scheduled to player her second round singles match against Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico later today

Sania retains 70th place, Shikha improves ranking

UNI New Delhi : Tennis ace Sania Mirza retained her 70th place while US-based Shikha Uberoi went three rungs up to finish 131st in the latest WTA singles rankings.

Sania maintains her career-best 70th place with 517.25 points, according to information received here today.

The Boca Raton-based Shikha, who made her debut for India in the Fed Cup earlier this year, has gone three places up to finish 131st with 278.50 points.

Shikha’s Fed Cup team-mate and veteran Rushmi Chakravarthi, however, slipped six places to finish 366th.

The next Indian in the ladder is Sanaa Bhambri who moved eight steps up at 468 while her sister and Indian Fed Cup team member Ankita finished 478th, four places up from her previous ranking.

Sania in second round at Cincinnati Open

Sania Mirza created a flutter knocking out seventh seed Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany in straight sets in her opening round match in the Western and Southern Financial Group Women's Open tennis tournament at Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Indian teenager sent her opponent, ranked 36, packing 6-4 6-3 to make a great start in the $170,000 Tier III hard court tournament on Tuesday, according to information received.

In the second round, Sania, world number 70, will face Kristiana Brandi of Puerto Rico, who beat American wild card entrant Jessica Kirkland 6-3 6-1.

India's Mirza is full of surprises

By Neil Schmidt and Alex Blumer
Enquirer contributors
MASON - Big crowds are nothing new for Sania Mirza, wherever tennis takes her.

Mirza, 18, already a huge celebrity in her native India, delighted her many fans from the Cincinnati area Tuesday in a 6-4, 6-3 first-round upset of seventh-seeded Anna-Lena Groenefeld.

"I was watching the other matches and there were hardly any people watching, and then I come out here and there are so many people," said Mirza, who's ranked 70th in the world. "It was really great, to have all that support in a country that you don't belong to."

Mirza's victory drew a vocal and largely Indian crowd to the smaller Grandstand court.

One of her many fans in attendance was Salil Bradhan, 37, a native-born Indian who brought his wife and two children to see Mirza play.

"She's a role model for them," Mirza said of his two children. "This is the first time I've seen her play."

Mirza does have a local connection, as she's been shown around town by an uncle, who lives in Springfield.

"He refuses to feed me Indian food; he says I can get that at home," said Mirza. "We've had every cuisine possible except Indian. I'm really craving it now."

Mirza next plays Kristina Brandi in the second round Thursday.

Sania can break into top-10

STANISLAUS D'SOUZA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, JULY 18, 2005 06:55:15 AM ]

BARCELONA: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza aims to crack the top 50 in the women's rankings by this year end. Indian fans are also hoping that a day will soon arrive when they'll see their favourite star challenge the top stars and aim for a top-10 finish soon.

Wishful thinking? Not according to former Spanish star and clay court specialist Emilio Sanchez, brother of former World No. 1 and triple French Open women's winner Aranxta Sanchez Vicario. But Emilio predicts a grind for Sania if she has to get into the top 10. "To reach there, she must develop on several areas starting with strengthening of her legs, improving her mobility, getting her strokeplay in order and improving her mental toughness," says Emilio.

Emilio is the man behind the rise of Russian star Svetlana Kuznetsova, the US Open champion, who was instrumental in Sania tasting fame and success after her loss to the Indian at the Dubai Open. She however, beat Sania at Wimbledon in a thrilling three-set battle.


Talking to TOI at the Open Sports Club, which houses the Tennis Academia Sanchez-Casal, Emilio spoke highly of the Indian tennis starlet, but emphasised she needed to address her problem soon.
Emilio also said the nation should not have too many expectations from Sania because that could "boomerang on her as the pressures of growing expectation weigh on a player and could burn her out early."

Kuznetsova, who is honing her skills at the academy here, also sounded impressed by Sania's performance. "Sania is talented and has the potential to rise. What she lacks is confidence, agility and experience. She has the wherewithal to go places,"said Kuznetsova, who is at the academy to improve her body balance and strokeplay, according to Emilio.
The Sanchez academy is one of a kind in Europe. It blends education with tennis and is used by some of the best players to hone their skills. The list includes names like Martina Navratilova and Elena Bovina -- the latest rising Russian star.

India’s most beautiful lips-2005 awards, Sania Mirza nominated

The search for the nominees for India’s most beautiful lips-2005 contest has at last ended!

Blistex Inc.USA, the international lip care brand announced the final names of celebrities short listed for the nomination of India’s first version of the world’s most popular award Blistex-India’s Most Beautiful Lips-2005 in association with Elder Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

The ten males in the list are Dino Morea, Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Shahid Kapoor, Ritesh Deshmukh, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Dravid, John Abraham, Leander Paes and Abhijeet Sawant.

The females are Kareena Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Nafisa Ali, Sania Mirza, Malaika Arora Khan, Priyanka Gandhi, Rekha, Sushmita Sen and Shobha De.

Sania faces uphill task, to play Groenefeld in first round

NEW DELHI, July 17. — Sania Mirza would gun for another upset win against Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany whom she has been drawn to play against in the first round of the $170,000 WTA Western and Southern Financial Group Women’s Open tennis starting in Cincinnati tomorrow.
Sania, who has climbed up five places to the 70th rank after her impressive show at Wimbledon, has a tough task in hand against the seventh seeded German, currently ranked 36 in the world.
The Tier-II WTA tour event, Sania’s first in the run up to the US Open Grand Slam starting on 29 August, will also test the Indian’s skill on hard court.
Sania, who would be accompanied by her travelling coach Mr John Farrington, would be hoping to pull off a win against the German whom she had defeated in the semi-finals of the Palm Beach Garden Challenger last November.

Sania Mirza being given warm welcome by a group of school students in Hyderabad on July 9-2003 

Fans should not have high expectations, says Sania

As she prepares for the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open, Sania Mirza has a simple message for her fans: don't expect too much from her for now.

"I'm looking at the first round of the US Open and people back home need not have high expectations," Sania told reporters during a felicitation function here.

On her fitness, the former Wimbledon junior girls doubles champion said that she has recovered well from her ankle injury and hoped to put up a strong display in the ensuing major tournaments.

For the first time in her career, Sania will be having a travelling coach -- John Farrington of Bahamas on her US sojourn. The arrangement was for a short term, though.

"We have to see how the concept works. Right now I cannot say anything about it unless we try that out this summer," Sania said while thanking her sponsor GVK Reddy of the GVK Industries who will be bearing the expenses of Farrington.

Before the US Open, Sania said, she would be playing six WTA Tour events in North America.

When asked if she would be paired with Mahesh Bhupathi in future in mixed doubles, Sania said she was now only concentrating on singles but quickly added that she would love to play with the new Wimbledon mixed doubles champion.

Meanwhile, GVK Reddy said that his company will be sponsoring three more young tennis players as a second string and keep the game going.

Sania can be among top 25: Nandan Bal

New Delhi: Sania Mirza has the potential to break into the top 25 provided she improves her serve and brings more consistency in her game, opined Davis Cup coach Nandal Bal.

Talking to UNI on the sidelines of a tennis tournament here early this week, the former national champion said, ''Sania definitely has the game that can take her to the top 25. But mere flashes in the pan won't do that, Sania would have to be more consistent to reach there.''

''A good week can't assure you success in tennis. For that you have to maintain the same consistency throughout all the 52 weeks,'' he opined.

Analysing the 18-year-old Hyderabad girl's game, Bal suggested Sania should improve her serve.

''Sania's first serve success rate is far from satisfying and the second is weak as well. She would have to work on it. Double fault at crucial points is another aspect that she should take care of,'' he said.

Reiterating Sania was good enough to establish herself as a force to reckon with in women's tennis, Bal was impressed with the way she hits the ball.

''She is a good baseline player and her forehand is quite awesome,'' he said.

Sania, the only Indian girl with a WTA title, would have to work on her fitness as well, Bal said.

He, however, was not in favour of Sania partnering Mahesh Bhupathi in the mixed doubles events, which according to him was not a good idea.

''See, I know some people are advocating this but I feel that won't augur well for Bhupathi. He is a top-notch doubles player and ideally he should team up with someone who is equally good,'' he said.

Former player Jaideep Mukherjea had recently suggested that Sania and Bhupathi should team up for international mixed doubles event.

Pointing to Bhupathi's recent mixed doubles triumph at Wimbledon, Bal said, 'He he partnerered someone like Mary Pierce and went on to win the title. Of course Sania will benefit if she plays with Bhupathi, but he needs a player of same stature.''

Bal also advised the media not to speculate on the reunion of Bhupathi with his estranged partner Leander Paes.

''I don't know why the media comes up with such possibilities.

We should come to terms with the fact they have parted their ways. Still for the sake of the country, they play together in events like Olympics and Davis Cup. We should leave the decision to them,'' he said.

Showering praises on Paes, Bal said the Indian Davis Cup captain was undoubtedly the best tennis player of the country and he still had one or two years' game left in him.

Efforts were on to find players who could replace the ageing pair of Paes and Bhupathi but ''It's not an easy job to find'', admitted Bal.

sania mirza 

Sania leaves for hard court tournaments in US

Hyderabad,Tennis star Sania Mirza is leaving for the US Thursday for a seven-week North American hard court leg that will culminate with the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year.

Sania hopes to gain valuable experience from playing these tournaments and improve her WTA (Women's Tennis Association) ranking from the present 70th.

Sania's new travelling coach, John Farrington, who is also the Bahamas' Davis Cup captain, will accompany her on the entire trip. Sania's North American schedule (all hard court tournaments):

July 18: $170,000 Cincinnati Open. July 25: $585,000 Bank of West Classic, Stanford.

Aug 1: $1.3 million Acura Classic, San Diego. Aug 8: $585,000 JP Morgan Chase Open, Los Angeles.

Aug 15: $1.3 million Rogers Cup, Toronto. Aug 29: US Open, New York. Indo-Asian News Service

Tennis sensation Sania Mirza with 'Indian women's contribution to sports' award at the 3rd Hero Indian Sports Awards in Bangalore on late Saturday, July 9, 2005 

Sania, Gopichand to plug Buddhist sites in AP

LENDING VIGOUR: The State Minister for Tourism, Ms J. Geeta Reddy, arrives with sporting icons Sania Mirza and Pullela Gopichand to promote Buddhist sites in the State in Hyderabad on Monday. - P.V. Sivakumar

Hyderabad , July 11

WHEN Sania Mirza, the teenage tennis sensation from Andhra Pradesh, goes on her next sports tournament, she would promote AP Tourism.

She and former All-England Badminton Champion Pullela Gopichand have been roped in by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Ministry as ambassadors to promote tourism in India and abroad.

Ms Mirza said she was proud to be a Hyderabadi. "I will do all that I can to make Hyderabad a preferred destination," she said.

At a gathering here on Monday, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, Minister for Tourism and Sugar, said that sports and tourism went together. "They both understand cultures and build bridges. Also, they create better understanding of people's cultures," she said.

Mr Gopichand said he himself liked the tourism destinations in the State. "I have visited most places," he said.

"All these years, I had been promoting the State in my personal capacity,now I do that officially," he said.

Mr Gopichand said the State tourism potential would be promoted at the upcoming Junior ABC to be held at Jakarta.

Dr Geeta Reddy also launched the State's Buddhist Circuit. The circuit was announced at road shows held in Colombo and Bangkok last month.

In association with SriLankan Airlines, the Andhra Pradesh Government offered the Colombo package at $265 and the Bangkok one at $465. Both the packages include two nights/three days' hotel stay and sightseeing to select Buddhist spots in the State.

At the Bangkok meet, Dr Geeta Reddy had proposed a forum of Tourism Ministers of countries where Buddhism was practised.

Sania must concentrate on singles now, says Mahesh

BANGALORE: Blustery morning conditions gave way to bright sunshine just seconds before Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza — India’s hottest tennis property at the moment — walked on to the makeshift, roadside court.
The two were not about to pair in a mixed doubles match, but rather to spar in a best-of-three, five-point tiebreaker sets.

The cause? Promotion of the Sunfeast Open 2005, a three tier WTA tournament scheduled to be held in Kolkata in September this year. One wondered why a tournament to be held in Kolkata was being promoted here. Mahesh said: “We had done a few promotional events in Kolkata, but this being the home of title sponsors, we wanted to do something here,” said Mahesh, who won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with Mary Pierce. “It’s a great way of creating awareness for an event.”

About the quality of players likely to participate the event, Mahesh said: “The final list of entries for the tournament will come through the WTA.

“But there are a few players we have in mind.”

Mahesh’s victory at Wimbledon and Sania’s own performance at the All England Club have left many wondering why the two can’t get together in mixed doubles. Mahesh was non-committal.

“We’ll see. At the moment the priority is to help Sania break into the top-50 (WTA singles ranking). “She’s improving on a monthly basis and she should concentrate on getting there.”

Sania would start favourite at the Sunfeast Open in September, but the teenager said she wasn’t expecting it to be a walk in the park.

“This is a three tier event, one step above the Hyderabad Open. Every match at this stage is tough. But I’m going to give it my best.”

Asked if she would like to pair with Mahesh in mixed doubles she said: “It will be an honour to play with Mahesh.”

Sania retains her WTA ranking

Sania Mirza retained her 70th ranking in the latest WTA singles rankings announced on Monday.

Sania, who first climbed to her career best 70th ranking on May 23, had slipped to 75th place after a six-week injury lay-off. But the Indian regained the spot last week after her impressive show at the All England Club.

The teenager, who lost to US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round of the Wimbledon, maintained her position in the list that remained unchanged till first 80 places this week, barring shifting of one player from 24th to 28th rank.

Sania, Bhupathi match @50

Bangalore, July 11: Ace doubles player Mahesh Bhupathi said he may consider pairing up with Sania Mirza in mixed doubles at Grand Slams after the Hyderabad tennis sensation breaks into the top 50 in singles world rankings.

"Sania is improving every month. So, she will get a ranking up to a level...We can compete at the highest level (in mixed doubles)," Bhupathi told reporters here.

Bhupathi along with Mary Pierce of France won the Wimbledon mixed doubles earlier this month while Sania, currently ranked 70 in the world, lost to the US Open Champion and world number six Svetlana Kuznetsova after a spirited fight in the singles second round.

But both Bhupathi and Sania stressed that at this stage of her career, she needed to focus on singles. "It (mixed doubles) is not a priority for Sania (now). Right now, it (mixed doubles) comes only four times a year. She says she wants to break into the top 50. If and when that happens, it will (Bhupathi pairing up with Sania)...The whole country will be excited about it. Right now, she needs to focus on singles," he said.

"It will be an honour (to pair with Bhupathi in mixed doubles)," added Sania. "I am playing singles and doubles; mixed doubles happen four times a year. We will see; when it happens, it happens".

Sania said she would take part in a few tournaments in the run up to the US Open. She is also looking for a touring coach and she will be pursuing it in the US.

I gave my best at Wimbledon: Sania

India's tennis ace�Sania Mirza�maintained that she had played her best and put in 200 per cent at Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova after putting up a spirited fight.

"I gave what I had and I played my best. Winning and losing is all part of the game. I gave it my 200 per cent,"�Sania said in Bangalore on Saturday.


Sania said ranking is not a factor when one played at the Grand Slam level.

"It does not really matter whether you are playing against the fifth seeded or are 75th seeded, what matters is putting in all your best and playing the game. Rankings keep changing, sometimes you are up, sometimes down."

To a query on whether it was the mounting pressure and expectation that had seen her losing out at Wimbledon, the world No. 70 said, "the pressure is always there. In sports you always face the pressure but you learn to live with it. As far expectations go, when I play a match I do not think about it, I play for myself and my country."

Dismissing criticism that she had shifted her focus from sports to modelling, she said, "I know what I am doing. Just because I happen to do a couple of advertisements does not mean I have shifted my focus from the game. Any sane person would know that it would be foolish to give up the sport for advertising."

Sania bids adieu to adidas, to sparkle in Lotto ads

NEW DELHI, July 11
Budding tennis star Sania
Mirza will be endorsing well-known Italian sports brand Lotto in India now. Earlier, she had an endorsement deal with adidas.

The development coincides with Sierra Industrial Enterprises, which retails Lotto and Disney shoes in India, awarding its advertising business to Rediffusion DYR. Delhi-based agency De'stiji used to service the account earlier.

Santosh Sood, COO, Rediffusion, told agencyfaqs! that the Lotto brand will “straddle the sports and style” genres. “The brand, despite its presence in India for many years now, suffered from a serious visibility problem. We are going to change that,” he added.

The adverts – print and billboards – feature Sania in sports gear and in casuals. “That’s because Lotto is stylish and sporty at the same time. After all, how many people play tennis in India? Sports shoes are more of a fashion statement in this country. That’s why both the genres have been targeted.” The advertising budget for Lotto is around Rs 3.5 crore, and Rediffusion will be working on a television campaign at a later date. .

Former tennis champion Boris Becker used to endorse the Lotto brand earlier. Subsequently, the brand had roped in other players as well. But none of them had Sania’s sparkle. Recently at the Wimbledon, 1977 champion Virginia Wade described Sania as “one of the most exciting players” on the tennis circuit, while analyzing the match for BBC.

While no financial details were available about Sania’s deal with Lotto, it is estimated that Sania makes upwards Rs 26 lakh a year through off-court earnings and has contracts with companies such as Hindustan Petroleum Corp., India's second-biggest state-owned refiner, and Tata Tea Ltd., the world's number two tea company. She also endorses Tata Indicom and Head NV, the second-largest maker of tennis rackets.

Although she trails cricketer superstar Sachin Tendulkar, who earns at least $5 million a year from sponsors, Sania has helped make tennis the country's second-most popular sport. According to a ZEE TV poll earlier this year on India’s most popular athletes, Sania emerged third behind Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, and was the only woman in the top 10.

Piyush Pandey, O&M India’s group president, has been quoted as saying that Sania has “got a presence and vitality to match her ability. She's got an attitude that young people love.”

Lotto is precisely hoping to cash on this.

Both Lotto and Disney are going to be retailed through Sierra Industrial's own stores along with Bata shops. In fact, the target for the fiscal is to retail Lotto in 120 Bata stores and 600 retail outlets.

The Disney shoe brand, for the record, is borne out a strategic alliance between media giant Walt Disney and Sierra. According to the terms of the agreement, Sierra owns the licence to use the Disney brand to manufacture and market the Disney shoe range in India. Sierra, incidentally, also distributes Nike in India.

The Disney shoes range will target children within the age group of a few months to 10 years. The collection, priced between Rs 150 to Rs 850, would include booties, sandals, slippers and sports shoes for boys and girls.

© 2005 agencyfaqs!

It's foolish to give up sport for advertising: Sania

Tennis star Sania Mirza on Saturday maintained that she had played her best and put in 200 per cent at Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round after putting up a spirited fight. "I gave what I had and I played my best. Winning and losing is all part of the game. I gave it my 200 per cent," Sania, who was here to participate in the celebrity golf organised by HISA, told PTI. Sania said ranking was not a factor when one played at the Grand Slam level. "It does not really matter whether you are playing against the fifth seeded or are 75th seeded, what matters is putting in all your best and playing the game. Rankings keep changing, sometimes you are up, sometimes down." To a query on whether it was the mounting pressure and expectation that had seen her losing out at Wimbledon, the world no 70 said, "the pressure is always there. In sports you always face the pressure but you learn to live with it. As far expectations go, when I play a match I do not think about it, I play for myself and my country." Dismissing criticism that she had shifted her focus from sports to modelling, she said, "I know what I am doing. Just because I happen to do a couple of advertisements does not mean I have shifted my focus from the game. Any sane person would know that it would be foolish to give up the sport for advertising."

Bhupathi, Sania launch Sunfeast WTA Open

A RICH FEAST: Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi pose with the mascot of the Sunfeast-WTA Open. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: The organiser, `Globosport' called it "tennis on the street." Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza played out a lively promotional contest here on Monday for the Sunfeast-WTA Open tennis championship, scheduled to be held in Kolkata in September.

The `match', a best of three tie-breakers of five points each, was played on a makeshift court laid between the imposing Vidhana Soudha and the new legislature building Vikas Soudha here and for the record, Bhupathi won 5-1, 2-5, 5-1.

The two exchanged some sizzling strokes and lively banter while a sizeable crowd rooted for Mirza, who did catch Bhupathi on the wrong foot with couple neat backhand volleys.

Pitching in

Later, speaking to the media, Bhupathi said "it is a nice way to get the Sunfeast WTA Open on the road and I am glad Sania pitched in to play this tie."

Commenting on the tournament, Bhupathi, who heads `Globosport', said that he expected some big names to play there and it would be premature to confirm the list.

"It is going to a bigger and better show than the Hyderabad Open, I can promise you that," he said.

On his mixed doubles triumph at Wimbledon, he said, "it is truly satisfying whenever you win a big one and winning a Slam is a rewarding experience."

He said that sometime during the season, he would team up with Leander Paes for some events and added that he would decide, along with Paes, on the events later,

Mirza said that she was happy with her performances and added that she felt there was scope for more improvement, given her goal of making it to the top 50.

The Hyderabad lass however said she felt she could work on consistency, which was what really counted on the international scene.

Mirza, who plans to play a few tournaments in the U.S., before the U.S. Open, said that she would decide on having a touring coach after getting to America.

She said she would find a place in the main draw of the Kolkata event.

"Obviously, it is going to be a very challenging affair; far tougher than the Hyderabad event. I do look forward to playing my best."

To a suggestion that they team up for mixed doubles, Mahesh Bhupathi smiled and said "it is too early to think on that and obviously, she has her goals in singles and we can come to that later."

On her part, Sania said, it would be an honour to partner Mahesh at a later stage.

Mahesh beats Sania in friendly contest

Sports News, Bangalore, Traffic stalled and hundreds of office goers stopped to take a look as India's tennis superstars Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza Monday took to the streets of Bangalore for a friendly contest.

The 30-minute game, a promotional build-up to the Sunfeast Open 2005 in Kolkata from Sep 19-25, was held near the Vidhan Soudha, the stately secretariat in the heart of the city, during peak office hour.

Vehicular movement came to a standstill as Mahesh and Sania battled at the makeshift court to demonstrate their powerful serves, volleys and rallies.

The friendly encounter saw Mahesh beat Sania 6-1 in the only set they played. However, in response to the cheering spectators asking for more, they agreed to play another set, which ended in a tie-break.

"Though the Sunfeast Open tournament is being played in Kolkata, we wanted to popularise tennis across the country in a novel way. Since Bangalore is the home of Sunfeast (a division of ITC Ltd) and Globosport, the sports management firm set up by me, we thought of launching the campaign from here," Mahesh told reporters after the game.The weeklong Sunfeast Open will see in action world's leading women tennis players and new generation Indian stars like Sania and Shikha Uberoi. As part of the Tier III Women Tennis Association (WTA) Tour championships, the event will be held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, with a total prize money of $170,000.

"We will announce the list of participants six weeks before the tournament begins. The response for entries has been good so far. Besides Sania and Shikha, the event will feature some of the leading players in the international circuit," Mahesh disclosed.

Indo-Asian News Service

‘Sania Mirza was brilliant at Big W’ :Bhupathi

Calcutta: Mahesh Bhupathi on Tuesday rated Sania Mirza’s performance at Wimbledon as ‘brilliant’. “She had a great tournament, despite losing in the second round,” Bhupathi said.

According to Bhupathi, temperament is Sania’s strength and her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova proved what she is capable of. “We all saw what tennis Sania played on that day… You have to remember that she lost to world No. 5 which is a definitely a creditable achievement for her.”

After Sania, Globosport, Bhupathi’s sports management company, is on the look out for more promising youngsters to lend a supporting hand.

Sania climbs back to 70th place, trains guns on US Open

NEWDELHI: Sania Mirza climbed back to her careerhigh singles ranking of 70, thanks to her splendid show at the Wimbledon Grand Slam over the fortnight.
Sania, who reached the second round of the ladies' singles where she lost to US Open champion and World number six Svetlana Kuznetsova, jumped five places to get back to her best ever ranking which she had also achieved in the last week of May.

The Hyderabadi's ranking had slipped marginally to 75 following a couple of early losses in the clay court season, including the French Open, when she was returning from an eightweek injury layoff.

At the Wimbledon, however, Sania was at her best as she defeated Japan's Akiko Morigami, then ranked 71, in the first round before giving Kuznetsova a run for her money in the second round.The 18yearold is at present back in Hyderabad and, after more than a week's practice, will leave for the USA on a sevenweek sojourn culminating in the US Open Grand Slam starting August 29.

Her North American hard courts season schedule includes WTA Tour events at: July 18: Cincinnati (prize money of 170,000 US Dollars, Tier 3); July 25: Stanford (585,000 USD, Tier 2); Aug 1: San Diego (1.3 million USDTier 1); Aug 8: Los Angeles (585,000 USD); Aug 15: Toronto Canada (1.3 million USD).Sania will be accompanied by her new travelling coach John Farrington on tour.

This is Sania’s coach, he turns grit into glory

Not much is known about John B Farrington but this one fact is: He makes winners out of fighters. Which is a pretty handy point on your CV if you’re appointed Sania Mirza’s travelling coach.

Farrington, who was handpicked by Mahesh Bhupathi for this job, took on fellow Bahamian Mark Knowles, known for his grit and guts, and groomed him from an average player to one half of the world’s top doubles pair (with Canadian Daniel Nestor) in 2003. Though the association between Farrington and Sania would be just two months — till the US Open in September — there is every chance of it being extended if it clicks, says Krishna Bhupathi, Mahesh’s father and Sania’s sometime coach. ‘‘After all Farrington’s role is kind of experimental because it all depends of the player-coach compatibility.’’ The North Carolina-based coach is believed to have been chosen for his vast exposure to the sport, which includes being part of a junior development programme in Bahamas. He played for the Bahamas for six years (1989-1996) and captain for five years.

As Krishna puts it, ‘‘he’s got experience because he’s gone into coaching after playing tennis at the highest levels.’’ Also, he adds, ‘‘he’s based in the US, which lowers travel costs’’. His other main advantage, says Sania’s father Imran, is his relative youth. ‘‘He’s young, which solves one major aspect of finding hitting partners on tour’’.

With Farrington roped in, what happens to Sania’s occasional visits to Bob Brett’s academy? ‘‘Brett’s academy will always remain Sania’s base’’, says Bhupathi sr. ‘‘In fact both Brett and Farrington would work in tandem.’’

He says when the talk of sending Sania for advanced coaching arose, the unanimous choice was Nick Bolletieri’s academy. But eventually they realised the need for a travelling coach. ‘‘It was essential. After a point you need tactical analysis and someone full time to keep analysing flaws, strategy.’’

Sania Mirza gets John Farrington as travelling coach

INDIAN tennis sensation Sania Mirza will soon have a travelling coach -- John Farrington of the Bahamas. According to Sania`s father Imran Mirza, Farrington will be with her initially for eight weeks till the US Open.

"Initially, he will be with her for eight weeks, beginning with the $200,000 WTA tournament, at Cincinnati, from July 18," Mirza said. Sania, who went down fighting world number five Svetlana Kuznestova in the second round of Wimbledon, will play six WTA tournaments in the US before the US Open, where she will get direct entry into the main draw.

Sania’s father says that she needs to improve her game further ahead of big events. "There is always room for improvement. Second serve and net play are the areas where she needs to improve. She also needs to get her timing right," he said, expressing the hope that Farrington would help her improve in some grey areas of the game.

He clarified that Sania would continue to be coached by Bob Brett, who is the former coach of Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic.

The decision to hire Farrington came after Mahesh Bhupathi recommended him. Farrington is the former coach of Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, the doubles team ranked third in the world.

"The need for a travelling coach was felt for a long time. Every player travels with seven to eight people. She is the only one who travels with her parents," said Mirza.

Imran agreed that there was also need for a trainer to accompany Sania during her tours. "But we have not decided about this," he said.

Sania defeated Japan`s Akiko Morigami, ranked four places above her, 6-3 3-6 8-6, in the first round but lost to Kuznestova in the next round after a tough battle.

Sania had created history this January when she advanced to the third round of the Australian Open. She, thus, became the first Indian girl to reach the third round of a Grand Slam. This was followed by yet another win at the Hyderabad Open when she became the first Indian to win a WTA title. However, she did not have a good run in the subsequent tournaments as an ankle injury continued to trouble her.