Sania: The rise and thereafter

Bikash Mohapatra, DNA India
MUMBAI: There has been much said and heard about Sania Mirza over the past 15 months. Her pioneering achievements last year, on court — almost whatever she did was a first for an Indian woman — and off it made news.

Not much has changed. Sania continues to be the cynosure of all eyes wherever she plays.

But, with 2006 not quite starting the way she would have liked, and in a world of instant stardom and equally prompt cynicism, a cloud of skepticism seems to now be hovering over her style of play. In some cases, even her future.

One year after : “Last year, it was a cakewalk for her. She’s at an altogether different level now,” says former coach CGK Bhupathi. “She’s currently wilting under pressure and the weight of her own expectations but this should be a temporary phase.”

It’s her second full year on the pro tour and Mirza is feeling the grind; she’s also picking up a lesson or two along the way. The first two months of 2006 have come and gone, and Sania is yet to progress beyond the second round of any of the five events she has participated in so far.

Compare this to the corresponding period last year and the concerns will seem valid. The fact that she is still hanging on to the 30s (in WTA rankings) has more to do with the results of other players than her own.

The skeptics notwithstanding, there is the voice of reason which says its too soon to judge. Former Davis Cupper Jaideep Mukherjee, for instance, believes the teething problems of early 2006 is no cause for concern.

“She’s playing well considering the fact that she’s under tremendous pressure,” says Mukherjee, the man instrumental in ensuring Sania a stint with Australian legend Tony Roche. “Her performance is not as good as last year but it is because she’s now getting into bigger tournaments, playing better players.”

Ganesh Raman, Sania’s coach during her formative years concurs. “What one needs to consider is whom she’s losing to now. Barring the Bangalore Open every player she has lost to is a big name,” he says.

The grey areas: The 19-year-old Indian plays a very aggressive game which, at times, can intimidate her opponents. But her game is often error prone, with the number of unforced errors increasing with every tournament she plays.

“She has the ability to be at a certain level, in the 30s. But she is still not good enough to be among the top-30,” feels former coach Bob Brett. “She’s into other activities which aren’t related to tennis but take away a lot of her practice time. Her forehand is natural and is definitely one of the biggest in women’s tennis, and she’s also quick with her feet. But it becomes difficult with her backhand, which isn’t as effective.”

Mukherjee believes Sania has a mental block going to the net and is also injury prone. Fitness seems to be another point of concern for the Indian. Mirza is picking up injuries regularly and her body is becoming increasingly susceptible. The fact that the hard surface is her preferred one also contributes to her injuries.

“Hard courts are tough on the body for it takes a lot out of the player. Every match is a taxing match,” says Raman.

“Her fitness levels are nowhere close to that of the other top-100 players,” Bhupathi agrees.
Experts feel that it is not possible for Sania to curb her natural abilities and, as such, she will continue making unforced errors through her career. But they do agree that she needs to be a lot more consistent with her game.

Could the problem also be that of too many cooks? She’s been working with too many coaches in the her short career — Bhupathi, Brett, John Buchanan and Tony Roche have all worked with Sania. Bhupathi disagrees. “All the coaches work according to a player’s strength and do not impose themselves,” he says, adding, “there’s no point in teaching serve and volley to a Spanish baseliner.”

This calls for a repair job: Brett believes Sania needs to improve the grey areas like her second serve, volleying and net game that will then combine effectively and become a support to her existing game.

“It is very important that your opponent is under threat when you hit a forehand. But you need to back it up with something else and close out,” says the former coach of Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic amongst others.

Brett believes this year will be tough for the Indian but things will be back on track in her third season. “She needs to stabilise this year and not worry much about her rankings, even if she goes down a few notches,” says Brett.

“She needs to consolidate herself in the 30s first and then move forward,” concurs CGK Bhupathi. “If that doesn’t happen the fall will be very drastic.”