‘Mirza got crucial support’

Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Sept. 18. —The hype surrounding Sania Mirza has done her a lot of good, and is a positive for Indian women’s tennis, said Ankita Bhambri, one of the qualifiers of the Sunfeast Open WTA meet, beginning here tomorrow.
But Ankita, who has played Sania a number of times in junior tournaments all over India, said that the spotlight should also fall on the other girls.
“Sania definitely deserves what she is getting. But it is also true that having a sponsor almost throughout her career and being managed by Globosport, who gave her proper directions, has helped her reach where she is now,” she said.
Happy to have made it to the main draw - Ankita had qualified at the Hyderabad Open also - Ankita wants to perform well here and collect valuable WTA points.
Here, with sister Sana, who bowed out in the qualifiers, Ankita said it was great to tour with her sibling as they could share things and practise together.
Ankita added that while her service and forehand were the strong points of her game, she needed to work on her fitness and speed around the court. “The game has become like that. You have to be quick and have power.”