Top-10 ranking by 2006 end a realistic target for Sania

From wild card to draw card, the year gone by has truly been one of fairy tale success for Sania Mirza who celebrates her 19th birthday tomorrow.

It was around this time last year that the teenager earned a wild card entry into the main draw of the Australian Open. Twelve months from then, she is not just ensured of a direct entry but would also be a major crowd puller at the first Grand Slam on the calendar.

The Cindrella of Indian tennis, however, has no grandiose ambitions for the new year.

"It has been a great year for me. I hope the new one also turns out to be similarly good, if not better," Sania told PTI.

The fact is that Sania has grabbed with both hands the opportunities that came her way, opportunities that every young tennis player can only dream of.

She has made such a huge jump in rankings that she does not need a wild card any more for Grand Slams. And coming as she does from a country which is short on sporting heroes, she has shot to stardom overnight.

She is reportedly the second biggest brand among sportspersons in the country. Everything that she wears, whether it is a nose-ring or a T-Shirt, and does is seen as a statement.

To the western media, she is a mould-breaking Muslim woman. 'Time' magazine, which featured her on the frontpage of its special edition in October, included her among the 50 Asians who could influence the world's future.

Gone are the days when Sania's parents had to call their media friends everyday to get a para of her match score out in the papers. Now they spend their time mostly fending off requests for interviews from the media. All this in less than a year! The recent few weeks' break that Sania had has hence been a welcome one. Sania spent her vacation in London and Venice, and in another week's time, would begin her preparations for the new, hectic season ahead.

Sania, who has not picked her racquet since pulling out of a WTA event in Bangkok in October, would ease her return with a week's practice starting November 22.

She would then leave for Australia on December 4 for a special stint with renowned coach Tony Roche from December 5 to 24.

Sania will start the 2006 season with the USD 600,000 event in Sydney starting on January 9 but that would depend on whether she qualifies for the Tier 2 event.

The youngster's ranking is bound to take a dip because she would be losing points that she had won in December last year when she reached the final of a USD 50,000 event.

She expects her year-end ranking to be around 36 whereas the cut-off for Sydney is 28.

Sania may then play the same week in Hobart or Canberra where the events are of USD 145,000 prize money.

The Australian Open starts on January 17.

"It doesn't matter whether she is 35 or 45 as long as she gets a direct entry into the Grand Slams," Sania's father Imran Mirza said.

"The ultimate goal is to be in the top-10 but ranking progress is never a straight line. Ups and downs are bound to be there.

"The realistic chance of her being in the top-10, should she remain injury free and luck plays an important role as well, could be by the (2006) year end," Imran added. One thing new about Sania when she returns to the court would be a customised shoe to protect her from foot injuries.

Sania won the Hyderabad Open, the first WTA Tour win by an Indian, in February playing with a twisted ankle, and the aggravated injury forced her on the bench during the Fed Cup in March. She also played the US Open with foot blisters.

The teenager took time out during her stay in Venice to visit the headquarters of Lotto, one of the brands she promotes.

"The Lotto people made a complete sketch of Sania's foot. She has a flat foot, and since she has had ankle injury also, they will come up with a specially designed shoe for her," Imran Mirza said.

Sania will try out her new shoe over the next one month before g iving her feedback to Lotto.

The Indian lass plans to play for about 25 weeks but that could be scaled down if she does well in the Grand Slams and other major tournaments.

Besides, more weeks on the circuit also translates into more expenses, especially when there would be an increase in support staff who would be travelling with her.

Apart from one of her parents, Sania will also have coach John Farrington and a trainer travelling with her.

While the deal with Farrington is on a long term, the one with the trainer, a 23-year old Australian woman, would be reviewed after the Australian Open.