‘I am a positive person’ - INTERVIEW - SANIA MIRZA

SRC : sportstar

Sania Mirza wants to get back to where she once was on the WTA Tour. “I wish to get back that winning feeling. I want to make winning a habit,” she says in a chat with Kalyan Ashok.

Sania Mirza is decidedly a self confessed movie buff and her recent favourite dialogue is from the Bollywood flick, ‘Om Shanti Om’, where the hero, Shah Rukh Khan, says “Kehte hain agar tum kisi cheez ko purey dil se chahe tho, sare kainath woh tuje milne ki koshish mein lag jatein hain.” (Meaning, if you desire anything with the whole heart, the entire Universe gets into the task of realising it for you). Sania’s desire right now is to get ba ck to the WTA Tour and start winning again. And certainly, she believes in Shah Rukh’s dialogue which appears to have a positive effect on her.

After a bright start in 2008, when she made the quarterfinals of the Hobart tournament and reached the third round of the Australian Open — where she also made the mixed doubles final with Mahesh Bhupathi — things turned gloomy for the Indian tennis diva in the later part of the season. The wrist injury that she suffered twice saw Sania miss most of the action, including the French Open and the US Open. She also had to retire from the first round of the Olympics in Beijing besides missing a host of other events.

Sania’s ranking too slid from an all time high of No. 27 (August 2007) to the current 101, but the spunky girl is determined to regain lost glory and be back at her best in 2009.

Training at Tennis Village in Bangalore along with Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna, a fitter and faster Sania showed the same old passion for hard work and a burning desire to get back to where she belonged — in the top 30 of the WTA Tour.

In an interview with Sportstar, Sania spoke of her testing times in the 2008 season and her hopes for the season ahead.

Excerpts:

Question: Sania, how fit are you now after coming back from that wrist injury? Are you physically ready for the season ahead?

Answer: I was feeling fit even when I was injured. It was just my wrist. I continued working on the rest of my body. The work I’ve put in now has been great. I feel a lot fitter, and I feel I can easily last two or three hours on the court. I am looking forward to playing again.

I don’t feel any pressure though, and I don’t think there are any expectations. I just want to be back in action.

What did the forced absence in 2008 teach you and how did you take it?

I’ve learned to be patient as a person. I’m generally very impatient, but after I suffered the wrist injury, I didn’t even know what was wrong and it took a long while to find the right doctor and right cure. I then learned the virtues of patience.

During that phase, I couldn’t watch the US Open, which had always been my favourite hunting ground. And after the Olympics, I didn’t leave my house for two or three weeks, I didn’t want to meet or see anyone. It took a lot of effort for my family to get me out. I went through many lows professionally. But personally, I got to do a lot of things I hadn’t done in a long time, like sleeping in my bed for two months at a stretch, spending quality time with my family, staying up with friends till 4 a.m. and talking a lot of normal things... I am a confident and positive person. I want to take as many positives as I can from the year. Now that I have got over that, I am feeling fine and training hard for the season ahead. It’s nice to be back and I am enjoying every moment of it.

Anything that you wish to do differently in the new season?

I wish I don’t get injured again! (laughs). That will be a big wish for the season. I am not looking ahead; what matters to me is the present and I am enjoying every moment of it. I was in Chennai recently to receive the honorary doctorate (from the MGR University). I soaked myself in that moment and I did not think of anything else. I’ve learned to live in the moment. I’m not looking at the Australian Open or the whole lot of tournaments ahead even though it’s great to know that I’ve made it to the main draw of the Australian Open despite not playing for four months.

Your record suggests that you are pretty good in doubles. How does doubles figure in your scheme of things for the new season?

I look at doubles as a great back-up. I’m too young to take a decision on that. Doubles comes naturally to me. It’s a lot of fun and sometimes when you lose early in singles and you end up making the doubles final, it’s good for your confidence. You know, I have won with different partners and so it is easy for me to fit into doubles.

What do you think of the current WTA Tour and the field?

There is a lot of depth in women’s tennis now. It’s getting tougher everyday. Justine Henin was great and a class apart — she dominated the circuit for two years. But now, it’s getting increasingly difficult, both physically and mentally, for one or two players to dominate the scene. The players are getting more and more powerful every day. Someone like Ana Ivanovic loses early in the US Open to a rank outsider. It did not happen so often in the past, but now it’s happening. There are girls, whom I have not even heard of, making waves now. It is tough out there, especially winning the No.1 slot.

How do you wish to start the new season?

I wish to get back that winning feeling. I want to make winning a habit. When you’ve been out of the competition for as long as I have been, you lose that feeling. So, I will play to win and other than that I don’t wish to visualise how the year would go.

How does it feel having received a doctorate from the Dr. MGR University?

I am honoured to receive the doctorate. It goes to show that whatever good work you do gets recognised. You know, I had to make a tough choice between tennis and academics. I was a good student, scoring high marks in languages. In fact, I passed both the Standard X and XII examinations in first class. I was dreaming of becoming a doctor. When I am done with tennis, may be I will get back to academics and major in psychology.

Sania Mirza's father blames payment delay on misunderstanding

Sania Mirza's father on Tuesday denied reports that the family had refused to pay for the tennis player's security and said the delay was a result of miscommunication with the government.

Imran Mirza said in a statement that the family never thought of not paying the amount.

"I would like to clarify that security was provided to Sania based on perceptions of a threat to her safety and security," he said.

"We were given to understand that the state, which has always taken justifiable pride for her achievements, felt responsible for providing the security for her, when she needed it. On several occasions when we met the officials concerned we were given to understand that Sania's security for that particular period was part of the state's continued commitment and interest in her progress as a player who had brought laurels to the country," he said.

"The delay in making the payment was caused due to our misunderstanding of the situation. We have already deposited the money into the government treasury as there is no question of us, as parents, shirking the responsibility of paying for our daughter's security," he added.

Sania's security withdrawn

Ace tennis star Sania Mirza was one of the defaulters who"failed" to make payments of user fee for the security she had obtained from state police, said Hyderabad City Commissioner of Police, B Prasada Rao today.

Speaking to reporters here, the commissioner admitted that notices were issued to Sania and others asking them to make necessary payments for the security obtained from City Security Wing (CSW).

Refusing to divulge further details on the number of defaulters, he said"police have certain guidelines to recover the charges for security provided to different personalities."

" They are supposed to make advance payments. If anybody fails to make payment of the service, we issue notices to them", the commissioner said. Sania was given a gunman each in two shifts. Her security was withdrawn after she"failed"to pay security charges, sources said.

Can Sania Mirza regian her form ? (pic)

A new year and a new Tourneament. Can Sania mirza wrestle out the bad form this year ? 

Oz open : Sania gets a direct entry

SRC : The hindu

Sania Mirza, who is on a comeback trail after a four-month lay-off due to an injury, was delighted on Wednesday when she was informed that she had been given a direct entry into the Australian Open tennis tournament which is to be held in Melbourne next month.

Speaking to The Hindu after a gruelling practice session here, Sania expressed her joy at this very good news. “I think the New Year seems to have started on right note for me,” she said.

“Right now, I have no problem with my wrist. In fact, I am hitting the ball harder and better than before. I am really comfortable and enjoying every moment on the court on my comeback,” she said.

The best Indian women’s tennis player also said that 19-year-old Vania King of USA will be her doubles partner, with whom she had already won the Morocco Open doubles title in May this year.

Before the Australian Open, Sania, who happens to be the only Indian player to be invited, will represent Asia in the inter-Continental exhibition championship along with Chinese Zheng Lie.

Year 2008 - bad for Sania Mirza

Year 2008 was not so great for Sania Mirza, will 2009 show any change ?

Sania mirza powers her shot (pic)

Sania mirza powers her shot - Archive

Sania service - Archive - pic

Can Sania climb back to top ranks again?

A long fight back to top ranks (pic)

Sania in Gym :)

Sania will rise again

Sania Mirza has what it takes to become a top-30 player again, says coach Scott Davidoff, who has been training her along with Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna.“I see her as one of the top women players of the world. The prolonged break has, in fact, done her good and it is nice to see her healthy and hitting as hard as ever. She is lot quicker and, definitely, her big forehand is in really good shape now, and so is the first serve,” he said.

He said Sania needed match-play to get back her confidence. “She has been a positive person and I am sure she will do it,” he said.

“When you are making a comeback, everything might not fall into place quickly and one needs to be patient. Also, it is important to have the right folks around you — trainer, coach, family and friends…and set little goals,” he said.

Sania's car number - 786

Sania Mirza bought a swanky new Mercedes Benz. She made an application to the RTA authorities to allot her a fancy number for her car – ‘786’. 
Sania Mirza bagged the number after outbidding a city based businessman. Sania shelled out about 31,000 and bagged the number.

Sania mirza to focus on 'singles'

Tennis icon Sania Mirza feels that time has come to be back into action and said she will focus on 'singles', which still remains her priority.

''I am pretty young, I am just 22, to focus on doubles.

''Even though doubles gives me confidence when I am not doing good in singles, my priority remains singles,'' Sania told NDTV today.

However, she was elated on the fact she has been paired with former Davis cupper Mahesh Bhupati to compete in mixed doubles competition in the Australian Open. The duo made the final last year in their maiden event as a pair. 

The Hyderabadi-player has recently participated in a three-week training camp at the Tennis Village in Bangalore with Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna to sharpen her skills and fitness, and get back to shape again.

She further admitted that post-Olympics was a bad phase of her life. ''Every sportsperson goes through low in career. And I too has gone though that phase. It was infact painful for me to watch the US Open.'' But there was my family, friends and others to help me come out of the dark phase. ''I feel lucky on this part'', she added.

On people commenting on her that she has been losing focus on her game due to her high-profile personality, Sania replied, ''This is not new for me to hear all this things from the public. 

People have opinion on everything. But it would be dumb on my part to say that tennis is not my priority.

''It is because of tennis for which I am here and who I am,'' she stressed.

She admitted that 2008 has been altogether remained a good year for India in sports, ''Abhinav Bindra's gold in Beijing Olympics definitely was the best thing happened to the country, which had never happened in the recent years.

''Yesterday's win by the Indian cricket team by six wickets over England was also a glory to the country,'' Sania, a cricket buff and a big fan of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, said.

She also praised badminton star player Saina Nehwal for her recent accomplishments.

''Its a good thing that people have started following other sports than cricket. It will boost the sports and encourage players.'' She further added, ''I feel pride to be an athlete of India and I definitely hope to do better. I am a lot more patient now and the focus is rightly on the present moment and making the most of it in the next season.'' 

I had got into a depression: Sania Mirza

SRC : DNA

Sania Mirza admits that it has been quite a low for her since the Olympics.

You would remember this image — an overwrought Sania Mirza wincing in pain as she retired hurt from the first round of the Beijing Olympics in August, the wrist injury thereafter keeping her out of action. This was followed by a fall to world No.101 from the exhilaration of top-30 (world No.27). Depression was inevitable. “It’s definitely been a low for me, especially after the Olympics. I had got into a depression,” a refreshingly cheerful Sania told DNA on Monday. 

She arrived in Bangalore for a three-week tennis camp, as a run-up to her exhibition match in Hong Kong (JB group Classic tennis tournament) in January 2009, followed by the WTA event at Hobart and the Australian Open, where she will play mixed doubles alongside Bhupathi.

She was forthright about feeling despondent. “I didn’t want to watch the US Open because I couldn’t play. I didn’t get out of the house for two three weeks. I did not want to meet people. I think that’s when my friends and family counted,” she said. “They have been there and supported me - whether it was Mahesh (Bhupathi) or my dad or my friend Megha, who is also my manager. It’s a part and parcel of our career and we need to deal with it.”

Happily, the injury and the pain both seemed to be a thing of the past on Monday, as the tennis player went through a two-and-a-half-hour long training session with Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna at the Tennis Village. “I am feeling great right now. I don’t regret anything that has happened in the past. I am a positive person and I am just looking forward to a good new year, and trying to stay healthy,” she said. 

She said her struggle had been educational. “I have learnt a lot in the past few days. It’s taught me to be patient; it’s taught me to accept things. Tennis is a part of my life and not my life,” she said. 

It was a bright and sunny Monday morning when Sania, along with Mahesh Bhupathi and Bopanna, set foot on the synthetic courts at the Tennis Village, for yet another training session as part of their three-week camp here in Bangalore. 

Sania, who has been in the city for three weeks and is staying at the KSCA club house, is being trained by American coach Scott Davidoff. “It’s been a tough year professionally but personally it has been great. I got so much time to spend at home, see my parents both together for a span of two months which rarely used to happen because of my tours. I have become much closer to a lot of my friends and did normal teenage stuff like going for coffee which I don’t get do very often,” Sania said.

It was interesting to notice that in between the serves and shots, Sania kept asking for the score. And no, it was not 6-3 or 6-4 that she wanted to hear but an update on the India-England Test. Her love for cricket is well-documented, and she has been spotted at many games. And not just the international variety - she was at the Chinnaswamy stadium to watch the Ranji match between Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka for two consecutive days. “I am like one of the boys. I have always loved cricket. I have always watched cricket although I am pathetic at playing it. If I was a guy I would definitely be playing cricket,” said the 22-year-old. “I am in fact going to go and catch up with the 
match now.”

Sania mirza ready to comptete again

After an injury-marred 2008 which saw her ranking plummet to outside the top hundred, Sania Mirza looks forward to a new season with hope. Sania, who missed out on most of the action during the year, is now raring to go and a three-week training camp at the Tennis Village here with Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna has helped her get into shape.

After a session of working out and practice, Sania told The Hindu here said that she wanted to get back “that winning feeling.”

“You lose that if you are out of competition as long as I have been. I wish to get that back and make winning a habit, now that I have got over all injury-related problems and am feeling pretty good, physically and mentally,” she said.

Sania said she did not wish to set goals for the season ahead. “I would rather live and play for the moment instead of looking ahead too much. Right now, I am not even thinking about Australian Open, for which I have got a slot in the main draw,” she said.

The break did hurt Sania, who said she could not even beat to watch the U.S. Open, her “favourite hunting grounds” on TV. But she managed to cope with those dark moments and learnt the virtues of patience. “I am a lot more patient now and the focus is rightly on the present moment and making the most of it.” On the 2009 season, she said: “Nobody is going to dominate and lot new faces are there in the top 100 and the competition is going to be hard and, certainly, the No. 1 is spot is (up for grabs).”

“For me, it is like a new beginning and whatever I am taking into the year is a bonus. I am ready to compete again.”

Dr. Sania Mirza ...

“When I started to play tennis, I wanted to be a doctor. I had to choose between tennis and being a doctor and I chose tennis. Now, thanks to MGR University, both my dreams have come true,” said tennis star Sania Mirza, when she was conferred with the degree of doctor of letters by MGR Educational and Research Institute University, here on Thursday.

Attired in a dress befitting the occasion, Sania entered the auditorium making the photographers go berserk. She said, “I feel honoured. A special thanks to MGR University.”

Responding to the University’s wish that she start a tennis academy in Bangalore, Chennai or Hyderabad, Sania said she would certainly consider it.

Sania, now ranked 101, said she is enjoying her training sessions with Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and the others in Bangalore.

“I am training five to six hours a day with an American coach and am enjoying it. We are punishing our bodies. In a way it’s relaxing to come here,” she said.

Goals for the season

On her goals for the new season Sania, accompanied by her father Imran Mirza, said smiling, “I am just living for the moment. At the moment, I am enjoying the doctorate.”

Giving the welcome address, Prof. R.M. Vasagam, Vice-President (Administration), MGR University, said that the University was proud to award the doctorate to Sania for achieving excellence in sports and for being the first woman to be seeded in a Grand Slam event.

A.C. Shanmugam, Chancellor, MGR University, said Sania had been a role model for all the tennis players who were aspiring to reach international standards.

Sania mirza interview : Sportstar - starting afreash

Sania Mirza, who was out with a wrist injury, is on a comeback trail. “By all means, this is the beginning of a new chapter in my career. Hope things will move in the right direction,” she says in a chat with V. V. Subrahmanyam. 

                                             P. V. SIVAKUMAR

For the first time in more than a decade, India’s tennis sensation, Sania Mirza, was with her parents for nearly four months, courtesy an injury on her right wrist. But this wasn’t the kind of break that she was looking for. Sania, after all, has been eager to get back on court, her passion for the sport and the desire to experience the winning feeling being the driving factors in her comeback trail.

Sania, 22, said she was really happy and feeling very good to be back on court for such long hours. “The most important thing is that I am back and so is my confidence,” she said in a chat with Sportstar.

For someone who is preparing to make a comeback during the high-profile, Continental exhibition tournament in Hong Kong in December (she will be representing Asia in the tournament that will feature players such as Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams) it is definitely difficult to be forced into a long break from competitive circuit. “But I am looking at it this way. Okay, let me deem the break as an off-season and start afresh my preparations,” Sania pointed out.

Watched by her father Imran Mirza and helped by coach Ganesh Raman and two Hyderabad players — Manchit Madan and Chetan Panditi — Sania seemed to have regained her confidence. “You go through a lean phase when you tend to get self-doubts because of the break. But the most important thing is you are coming out of that with all the support of the family and well-wishers. So, obviously, I am not looking too far ahead right now,” she explained.

“The immediate focus will be on the National camp in Bangalore from December 1 to 25, featuring Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna among others,” Sania revealed.

How difficult was it to be away from the action?

“Well, being denied the chance to compete, for reasons beyond my control, in the big league is one thing that I badly missed. The feeling of winning is something that cannot be substituted by anything else,” said Sania.

What are the grey areas of concern?

“Well, for any sportsperson the solitary objective is to keep improving. And considering that I am back after a long gap, it might not be too easy,” she said.

“This is the reason why I don’t want to think or give an impression that I can start winning matches straightaway,” added Sania, who is now ranked No. 99 in the world.

“However, I can say that I am in the best frame of mind for the big league again,” said Sania, who will be helped by Sven Groeneveld, who also coaches the World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.

What kept her going despite the injury?

“The passion for the sport, the desire to come back and play against all the top players in the world,” said Sania. “Honestly, I was never worried about the numbers (rankings). Even when I was World No. 27, my focus was on how well I played on a given day, I did not give too much importance to rankings.”

“By all means, this is the beginning of a new chapter in my career. Hope things will move in the right direction,” she added.

Sania is well aware of the challenges ahead. “We know that it is not going to be easy. And also that training and coming back to competitive circuit are two different things altogether,” she said.

Imran is hopeful that Sania would get a direct entry to the Australian Open next year. “The cut-off ranking is around 100 and Sania should be there. She needs a couple of good wins to start with or else she will drop in rankings,” he pointed out.

“I am very keen to see how she holds up in the highly competitive big league as we will be there in Melbourne a week before the Australian Open,” said Imran, who is immensely pleased that Sania has got the power back in her strokes, especially her forehand.

Honorary doctorate degree for Sania

 M Annadurai, Mission Director, Chandrayaan-I and tennis ace Sania Mirza will be conferred honorary doctorate degrees by the Dr M G R Educational and Reserarch Institute University at its 17th convocation ,Chennai on December 6. 

Now what should we call her . Dr. Sania mirza ???

Sania @ banglore camp

India’s top tennis trio — Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna — get together for a pre-season training camp to sharpen their skills and fitness.

This camp was initiated by Mahesh and the trio have begun their three-week stint under the watchful eyes of American coach Davidoff and physical trainer Shayamalan Vallabhjee from South Africa.

On Sania, Shayamalan said: “Sania is very talented and she will be given training to improve on her lateral movements, so that she gets to the ball quickly. Once she is there, she knows how to put it away.”

Sania crashes out of top 100 : WTA rankings

India’s ace tennis player Sania Mirza has slipped out of the top 100 in the latest WTA singles rankings chart.

Mirza, who has been out of action since the Beijing Olympics has dropped out of the top 100 for the first time in nearly three years.

The Indian has seen a massive dip in her rankings since undergoing a wrist surgery in April. She made an early comeback on the circuit with the DFS Classic tournament in Birmingham in June which though was followed by a series of early exits.

Sania retired in tears from the first round of her maiden Olympics after the pain on her wrist recurred. Later, she pulled out of the US Open.

Sania with Naga Chaitanya, Nagarjuna’s son

It is reported that Sania mirza will act with Naga Chaitanya, Nagarjuna’s son, in his debut film

so cheers !!!

Sania, Bhupathi, Bopanna come together

BANGALORE: Sania Mirza and Bangalore boys Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna will come together for a three-week pre-season camp at the Tennis Village, starting December 1. 

The camp, to be held at Bhupathi’s state-of-the-art facility here, will combine a high-intensity fitness programme with tennis. South African trainer Shayamal Vallabhjee will call the shots on the fitness front, which will be the key to the camp given that Sania is returning from a four-month injury break and Bhupathi himself has survived a full season’s tennis after undergoing back surgery last October. American Scott Davidoff will be in charge of the tennis. 

Archives:Time spacial issue for Sania (pic)

From Archives : Time spacial issue for Sania Mirza (pic)

Sania Mirzas Pak tour postponed due to lack of sponsorship

Due to lack of sponsors, Indian women tennis ace Sania Mirzas proposed Pakistan tour has reportedly been postponed.

The tour was jointly planned by the PTF (Pakistan Tennis Federation) and the (ITF) Indian Tennis Federation to promote tennis and improve bilateral relations between the two federations, reported the Daily Times.

It added that the PTF had announced that it would host top Indian women tennis star in November or December this year, but lack of sponsorship forced the PTF to postpone the scheduled tour of Sania.

During Pakistan tour, Sania was also scheduled to play a doubles match against Pakistans top tennis player Aisamul Haq Qureshi.

Sania mirza in action (pic)

Sania mirza in action (pic)

Sania perfect figure (pics)

The beautiful sania mirza

Sania mirza - an old pic

Sania pull up your socks we need you back in top ranks

Sania mirza's new look (pic)

WTA rankings - Sania Mirza slips

Sania slipped to 99th spot in the women’s singles chart, although she managed to hold on to the 62nd position in the doubles ranking

Sania's new look (pic)

Cute sania mirza in her new outfit

Sania mirza with dad (pic)

Sania moves up ranks

Sania Mirza gained a place to be 97th in women’s singles ranking while in doubles she lost three places to be placed 62nd.

Sania on a positive note

Sania Mirza was relaxed and confident, as she faced the media after another good training session at the DLTA Complex. She had finished her stint in the Capital with friend Radhika Tulpule, who has graduated from her playing days to be one of the best ITF-qualified coaches in the country.

Having seen through the tough phase in her career, when she could not bear watching the U.S. Open on the television, or lift a glass of water, as she had been troubled by a wrist injury that had flared up after surgery, during the Olympics in Beijing, the 21-year-old Sania was understandably composed.

“I have been practising for two weeks. It has been great. By God’s grace, the wrist is good. Everything is positive at the moment,” Sania said, as she warmed up for the tougher questions.

She was clear not to put a date for her return to the professional tennis circuit, or set an immediate goal in terms of rankings.

“At the moment, everything is a bonus for me. I am happy to be healthy. We don’t appreciate it unless we go through injuries. I take it by one day. I don’t even think about tomorrow”, she said in a philosophical tone.

“It is no secret that your ranking goes down when you are not playing. I did not care much about the ranking when I was 27 in the world, or 550. As long as you play the game well and you have the confidence, you are going to make it back. I do see the headlines when my ranking goes down to 98 or 99. As players, we don’t sit on a Monday to see where our ranking figures,” remarked Sania as she had a dig at a section of the media that has been religiously capturing her fall in the ranking ladder.

Sania conceded that as a sportsperson, one had to go through such phases when injuries dampen the spirit, and observed that she wanted to see the positive side of it all.

“It is weird for me to sleep in the same bed for a month. But, on the positive side, it was great to spend time with family. After a long time, we were all together for Eid. It is great to catch up with friends,” she said, as she compared her current status with her otherwise busy schedule, flying around the world, week after week.

courtesy : The hindu

Sania enjoyed watching cricket

NEW DELHI: Sania Mirza might be a renowned name in women's tennis but it's cricket that sets her pulse racing. Therefore it comes as no surprise when she exults at India's historic win over Australia and finds Sachin Tendulkar's milestone of becoming the leading Test scorer inspiring.
Sania, who is in the Capital for the treatment of her chronic wrist injury, said she thoroughly enjoyed India's 320-run record win at Mohali on Tuesday. "Cricket has been my first love. It was great to see India winning over the best team in the world with such a big margin," said the Hyderabadi, who has been practising at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA).
Asked how she felt when her favourite cricketer Sachin bested West Indian Brian Lara's record she said: "It is very inspiring, not only for myself but for every cricket follower. Sachin is one of the best cricketer of the world, so it is a proud moment for everyone. I messaged to congratulate him."
The 21-year-old says she is recovering well from her wrist injury.
"It has been tough mentally for me. It was painful not to play at the US open as I have always done well there. But I am a person who likes to take positives from every situation. But I have not set a date for myself to return on the circuit."
"Hopefully, I should be back for the Hong Kong event," Sania said who will be flying back to Hyderabad on Thursday.

Sania in depression; eyeing for comeback

NEW DELHI: Forced to stay away from courts for almost half the season, a fit again Sania Mirza is eyeing a comeback at January's Classic tennis tournament in Hong Kong and revealed that she almost sunk into depression while struggling to recover from a wrist injury.

The Indian ace is out of action since Beijing Olympics, where her wrist injury flared up again and she had to concede her first round singles match.

Sharing the trauma she faced when she ran out of options to get her wrist healed, she said it was difficult to cope with the situation at that time.

"It was scary. It was career threatening. I was almost going through depression. I think the post-injury period is more difficult to cope with and I am happy to be back. But I never doubted that I cannot make a comeback ," Sania, who is in capital for the treatment, said.

Sania said she was keen to make a comeback but was not in a hurry. She confirmed that she will play a team tournament in Hong Kong in January before resuming her Tour activities.

"It is a big honour to represent Asia. It is great to be a part of such a large field, where you have players like (Jelena) Jankovic and (Maria) Sharapova. But we still have two-and-a-half months to go and it is very long period in tennis," she said after spending about an hour on the DLTA courts, practicing with Radhika Tulpule.

Talking about the next season, she said she was approaching it cautiously.

"I don't want to jump the gun. I want to take it day by day. If tomorrow it hurts again, I have to take rest again. But now it is good I am not feeling any pain while hitting. I am back to my routine. And it's great to be back," Sania said.

Australian physiotherapist Amir Takla and many other suggested a surgery for healing the injured wrist and then on the recommendation of Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Sania consulted Jatin Choudhry, who by applying spiral therapy healed her injury in a very short period.

"It is great blessing. I am lucky to find somebody like Jatin. It was almost a desperate time. Then he came and did a miracle," Sania said.

"A lot of people thought that I needed another surgery to heal and said it was the only option. There were countless MRIs and I was running around hospitals. So, it is really miraculous to have it healed like this.

"He (Yuvraj) said 'why don't you try and give it a shot'. I did not have a choice. He really played a big part (in healing the wrist)," she said.

"It's almost two weeks that I have been hitting the ball and it's pain free. I am also surprised (by the fast recovery). It's a Korean Therapy and it worked on me. By God's grace it is going well and very close to how it was before the injury," she added.

Sania, who has courted one or the other controversy in her career at regular intervals, also made it clear that idea of not playing in India never crossed her mind.

After the flag controversy during the Hopman cup, Sania had spoke of not playing in India but insisted that it never meant that she will not play in her home country forever.

"I never said I do not want to play in India. It was something put into my mouth and blown out of proportion. I had just said that 'this week (Bangalore Open) I don't want to play'.

"I love playing in India and who would not want play before the home crowd and fans. I would play tournament in India if it suits my Tour schedule," she said.

Sania though utilised her absence from the court to improve her fitness. She is looking in a lot better shape and she revealed how she did it.

"I was getting obsessed to run. I was on the treadmill. I needed to take care of the upper part of the body. I did lot of cardios. Going to gym, getting rehabilitation. And I think it was a blessing in disguise," she said.

She might be on the verge of crashing out of top-100 in the world rankings, but Sania says it does not affect her.

"Rankings have never bothered me. As a player the benchmark for me is how you feel on the court. If I play crap on court and I am ranked 20 that does not make me a great tennis player. Important is how I feel. So I am not worried about the falling rankings.

"And it is not that I am playing bad and my ranking is falling, I am not playing at all," she signed off.

Sania slides in WTA rankings

Sania Mirza maintained her last week’s 98th position in the singles, while she slipped from her previous week’s doubles ranking of 44 th to occupy the 56th spot in this week’s WTA rankings.

Sania: brand ambassador Adidas (pic)

Addidas to launch Sania Mirza’s signature collection

Commenting on her signature collection, Sania Mirza, adidas brand ambassador said, “I am extremely excited about my signature collection. The range reflects my personality and while designing we have paid close attention to style and comfort. The range is sporty and at the same time blends in a little bling and detailing without being over the top. I hope my fans would enjoy wearing the range as much as I enjoyed designing it with the team at adidas”.

Sania mirza to lead Asia-Pacific

Sania Mirza will spearhead the Asia-Pacific challenge in the World Team Challenge tournament in Hong Kong next year.

The January 7-10 tournament, a new concept and warm-up competition for the Australian Open, will feature four teams representing Europe, Russia, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

Each team will be represented by three players who would compete in both singles and doubles, Hong Kong Tennis Patrons' Association president Ian Wade said today.

There will be a semi-final draw for the teams, with each tie consisting of singles and doubles rubbers. The two teams which scores the most number of wins overall will progress to the final.

World number one Jelena Jankovic will lead Team Europe, Venus Williams will head the Americas, while Maria Sharapova will be leading Russia. The rest of the field will be announced later.

The tournament will replace the JB Group Classic exhibition, which is traditionally a warm-up event for women in the run up to the first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne in January

Sania Mirza dating a Telugu actor

Sania Mirza who seems to have a soft corner for actors (Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapur) is now very friendly with Telugu actor Navdeep Pallapolu.

Can Sania power herself back to top rankings? (pic)

Sania may drop out of top 100

Sania Mirza is on the verge of dropping out of top-100 as she lost seven places to be 98th in the latest WTA rankings.

Red hot Sania (pics)

Golden Sania....

An old collection :)

WTA rankings:Sania moves up

Saina Mirza jumped one place in the WTA singles ranking, while ace doubles player Mahesh Bhupathi has dropped a rung in the ATP doubles ranking issued today.
Sania, who is recuperating from a wrist injury occupies the 91st position with 380 points. She also managed to hold on to her 44th spot in the doubles chart.

Sania Mirza on the cover of Cosmopolitan (pic)

Sania Mirza to feature on the cover of Cosmopolitan

Sania's great fall continues ....

Out of action Sania Mirza today slipped one more rung to be 92nd in the latest WTA singles rankings chart though she maintained the 44th place in the doubles.
Sania, recuperating from a wrist injury, has 380 points in singles while 949 in the doubles.

Sania Mirza smiling :) photo

An old pic :

Sania Mirza, Indian Tennis star Camping at Bhupathy Village in Bangalore

Connors, advised Sania to focus on winning tennis matches only

Tennis icon Jimmy Connors, advised Sania Mirza to focus on winning tennis matches, assuring her that other things would fall in place.

“A player should only think of winning and other things will follow automatically. Once a player begins focusing on things other than tennis, success becomes difficult,” Connors said.

“In my life, I just thought of winning and the rest followed,” he said, adding that he had seen Sania play and was sure she would regroup in world rankings.

Shahid dumped Sania

Shahid has apparently distanced himself from ‘good friend’ and tennis sensation Sania Mirza. It is also believed that Shahid always found Priyanka attractive even while he was dating Kareena Kapoor. Though the two of have never starred opposite each other before, they did shot a steamy photo shoot, when both were fairly new. 

Shahid is evidently vulnerable since he broke off with his ex-sweetheart Bebo and it is alleged that Priyanka’s relationship with Harman is on the rocks and headed towards splitsville. 

Another source close to Shahid told a news daily that the actor is no longer an item with Sania Mirza. "Shahid and Priyanka have been getting close ever since Shahid distanced himself from Sania a month ago." Both PC and Shahid are professional, and hassle-free. When they met, they clicked instantly. “ 

Inside reports suggest Priyanka and Shahid got along like a house on fire and are already spending hours just chatting with each other and have the whole unit talking about them. 

If this wasn’t all, the two have also been spotted going out for dinners and movies. Coincidently, the ‘good friends’ stay in the same apartment complex, at Versova, and have also been spotted traveling together to shoots. Oops… it seems the two have been sharing a lot more than filmi gossips. Only time will tell whether this friendship will develop into something more.

Sania's fall continues;drops to 91 in rankings

Sania Mirza’s continued absence from the court took a heavy toll on her singles ranking as she slid to as low as 91 in the latest WTA charts issued on Monday.

Sania, who skipped the U.S. Open, dropped 21 places in one week with 380 points and runs the risk of moving out of top-100 for the first time since 2004.

Sania has been forced to miss the entire clay court season including the French Open and then left her singles Olympics campaign mid-way due to the niggling wrist injury.

She also lost seven positions in her doubles ranking, dropping to 44 with 949 points. 

Sania @ fashion show pics

Yuvi & Sania together

Yuvraj Singh (L) and tennis player Sania Mirza pose for a picture during the launch ceremony of an international menswear manufacturing company in Mumbai August 30, 2008.

Sania with yuvraj

India's cricket player Yuvraj Singh (L) and tennis player Sania Mirza pose for a picture during the launch ceremony of an international menswear manufacturing company in Mumbai August 30, 2008

Sania @ fashion show

Sania Mirza poses for a picture during the launch ceremony of an international menswear manufacturing company in Mumbai August 30, 2008

Sania Mirza vows to return fitter

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza is confident of getting over her current injury crisis and bouncing back into the top 50 soon with the help of a new trainer.

Mirza, 21, slipped from a career high of 27 in August last year to 70 in the latest WTA rankings after an injury-plagued season in 2008.

"It is naturally very frustrating for her to miss tournaments," Mirza's father, Imran Mirza, told AFP from the family base in Hyderabad on Friday.

"But she understands injuries are a tennis player's professional hazard and part and parcel of a sportsman's career.

"She is very positive and looking forward to bouncing back soon," he said.

Mirza injured her right wrist during the Indian Wells tournament in March and had to have surgery a month later.

She pulled out of the French Open in May-June, lost in the second round at Wimbledon and crashed out in the first round at the Beijing Olympics.

Mirza, who also withdrew from the ongoing US Open, has signed up trainer Amir Takla, a consultant with Tennis Australia.

"Takla is scheduled to arrive this weekend and will work with Sania for a period of six weeks," Imran said.

"The goal is to ensure her wrist recovers to its original strength, but at the same time the focus will also be towards optimising her overall physical fitness."

Imran refused to set a date for her return to the circuit, saying it was too early to predict.

"It is difficult to fix a timeframe for being back in competition even before work towards her rehabilitation has begun," he said.

"But we are looking at Sania playing a few tournaments later in the year to prepare for next year's Australian Open."

He also downplayed concerns over Mirza's spiralling rankings.

"When one is forced to skip Grand Slams and other compulsory tournaments... one has to expect that the ranking will come down because these are based on performances in these tournaments.

"But once the injury has been taken care of, the rankings will fall into place in due course of time. Sania is confident that after she finds her rhythm in a few months, she will be back where she belongs."

Sania signs up with Aussie physical trainer

Sania Mirza, the injured Indian tennis star, whose painful wrist condition consigned her to the sidelines for the better of the summer of 2008, has tied up with reputed trainer Amir Takla in a bid to bounce back into competitive mode.

The Hyderabadi will initially work with the heavyweight Aussie for a six-week period, starting September 2. Sania injured her right wrist during the Indian Wells tournament in late March, necessitating surgery in Miami in April.

The 21-year-old, who reached a career-high ranking of 27 in August 2007, missed the French Open and though she played the grasscourt season, struggled with her game for most part.

Sania then went on to play tournaments in Stanford, Los Angeles and Stockholm before her painful wrist condition forced her out of the first round singles match at the Beijing Olympics. She later pulled out of the US Open. She has since been advised three weeks of rest.

"I am determined to sort out this niggling problem once and for all," Sania told TOI. "I'm a positive person and I feel confident of a speedy recovery under the guidance of Amir, whose knowledge and experience is unquestionable."

Takla, a musculoskeletal and sport physiotherapist, is consultant to Tennis Australia and the Grand Slam of the Asia Pacific - the Australian Open. He specialises in strength training and injury prevention and management.

Sania first ran into the Aussie at the Australian Open earlier in the year, when he treated her after she tore her adductor muscle en route to the mixed doubles final. He was largely responsible in getting her back on her feet to play the final.

Sania's father Imran, said: "The main aim is to strengthen the wrist, and bring it to its earlier condition and level of performance. The rest of her body also needs to be strengthened. We are looking at Sania playing a few tournaments later in the year to prepare for the Australian Open."

The break from competition should give the Indian a chance to work on her overall fitness. Should she regain the control and strength on her forehand, which was the reason she went under the knife earlier in the year, she will forge a new threat in the coming season.

CNN interview - sania

Sania spoke exclusively to CNN-IBN’s sports editor Gaurav Kalra about her road to recovery and many more.

Here are the excerpts from the interview:

Sania: Few tests are done. It is heeling and it will take few more weeks. It is making progress, it stops hurting but as soon as I start playing it again starts hurting. There is a different problem to what it was when I had a surgery. It was a bit disappointing that it really took off at the Olympic but this is sports I guess.

Gaurav Kalra: Yes Sania, it has been one of those years, you haven’t had a chance to play much and as soon as you have gone to the court there have been injury concerns. Has it been very frustrating to have gone through 2008 and experienced all of this?

Sania: Yes, of course and especially when you are probably playing the best tennis of your life arguably and you have the potential to may be have the best year of your life and then you are walked down by injuries, of course it is very frustrating. But, I guess as an athlete you know, you have learnt that you have to deal with these things and it is going to be a part of our lives. We keep playing after putting ourselves through so much every day, physically and mentally but yes it is frustrating to be watching sitting out of grand slams and having to have retired the Olympic.

Gaurav Kalra: What do you make up these? Abhinav's performance at the Olympic, winning a gold medal for the first time an individual gold medal for an Indian and then the boxers and wrestlers, they all making us proud?

Sania: Yes, I think it has been probably arguably our best Olympics ever. We had a gold, two bronzes and in sports we probably least expected something. May be in shooting we did expect but these people have just prove to everyone of us here that if they can do it anyone can and I think it is a new sense of inspiration for lot many people who may have just started to think of taking up boxing as their career or taking up shooting or wrestling for that matter. I would personally like to congratulate Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar and Vijender Kumar for what they have done. They have shown us the new light and it inspired me and I am sure it has inspired the whole of India as well.

Gaurav Kalra: What do you make up this? Nadal vs Federer, the first one is the big tennis rivalry that everyone is talking about. We got a sense from the viewers listerning to you that you kind of preferred Roger Federer over Rafael Nadal?

Sania: I think Roger doesn’t matter if he is number 2 in the world today, it does not matter if he becomes 100 in the world, he is still going to be Roger Federer, he has been Roger Federer. I am very bias so I am going to say Roger Federer will win.

Gaurav Kalra: Look at the records Sania.

Sania: He (Federer) is a genius and like you said he surprised everyone in the Olympic by winning the doubles gold so you don’t know he might again come up and win it again but on a serious note Rafa is playing really well and probably he is playing the best he has ever played and yes it is going to be really hard for Roger to beat him but at the end of the day he is the King.

Sanias interview : video

Sania's free fall continues

Sania Mirza's free fall continued with the Indian tennis ace sliding seven places to 70th in the latest WTA rankings issued on Monday.

Sania, who had to concede her opening round game in the Beijing olympics owing to her wrist injury, has 470 points to her credit in the rankings headed by Serbian Ana Ivanovic.

The Hyderabadi had a her career-high 27th exactly a year ago but a string of poor shows and a recurring wrist injury saw her sliding down in the rankings.

She is also not participating in the fourth and last Grand Slam of the year -- US Open -- because of the nagging injury.

Sania to miss us open; Sania disappointed

Sania Mirza will miss the U.S. Open that gets underway on August 25 in Flushing Meadows, according to her father Imran Mirza.

In a statement released here on Thursday, Imran Mirza said that the Indian ace, who struggled to come to terms with her game since undergoing a wrist surgery to repair a torn capsule, had been advised complete rest for an initial period of three weeks by her doctor after undergoing intensive tests.

“The injury had forced her to retire in her first round singles match in the Beijing Olympics,” Imran added.

Sania injured her right wrist during the Indiana Wells tournament in late March, necessitating a surgery in Miami in April.

“I’ve always done well at the U.S. Open and it is very disappointing for me to miss a Grand Slam on my favourite surface due to my wrist injury,” Sania said.

Sania mirza may appear in big boss 2 reality show

After the premature exit of jade goody, the producers of BIGG BOSS 2 endemol and Tv Channel Colors found them self into a big fix, to win the situation over , unconfirmed reports and internal sources of endemol have pointed that, in a hurried up exercise they have created three teams to talk separately with three young hot female celebrities Sania Mirza , Yana Gupta and Super Sexy Sherlyn chopra.

Sania mirza is already out of Us Open tennis tournament , with rest advised from her doctors, she seems to be a perfect celebrity with enough oomph and mystery surrounding her personality , as there is a very little about her out in media. Sania Mirza's entry into BIGG BOSS 2 will ensure never seen TRP hikes in the History of Indian reality TV . She will guarantee the young viewers hogging the TV sets.

Now this seems to be good news for us, we could watch her for whole day :)

src: http://whatiexpect.in/2008082391/blogs/sania-mirza-yana-gupta-sherlyn-chopra-one-of-them-to-replace-jade-goody-in-bigg-boss-2.html

Sania mirza looking beautiful

is Shahid dating sania ???

There was a news item in April .. i doubt are they still dating each other or are they just friends?
read this article

The love affair between youngsters Shahid Kapur and tennis sensation Sania Mirza is still very much on… read on…

The pair were spotted at Mumbai’s Lokhandwala Complex recently. “Sania was with Shahid in his Mercedes Benz at Tarapore Gardens. The couple was enjoying each other’s company. Shahid looked dashing in a grey T-shirt, blue cap and blue jeans, while Sania was wearing a long yellow T-shirt and jeans. Just seeing them together made it clear that Shahid and Sania are definitely more than just friends,” revealed an onlooker.

Shahid then drove Sania to Ahmad Khan’s home where the two spent the afternoon listening to songs of Shahid’s forthcoming film Kismet Konnection.

Later in the day, the pair went to a five-star restaurant for some dinner and then later booked a room in a Bandra hote

WTA rankings: Sania moves up to 63rd spot

Sania Mirza has moved two slots up to 63rd position as Ana Ivanovic regains her number one singles position in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings on Monday.

Sania, who has been going through an indifferent form following surgery to her right wrist soon after the Australian Open in January, has moved from 65 to 63 from 19 Tour events. She has, however, remained at number 27 in the doubles, playing in 13 events.

Tearfil sania ...

A tearful Sania Mirza has retired from the Olympic singles tournament with a right wrist injury

Sania injured

India's Sania Mirza (seen here in July 2008) has retired from the Olympic singles tournament with a right wrist injury, shattering her "dream" to play here and dealing a blow to Indian hopes

Sania Mirza of India serves

Sania Mirza of India serves to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their women's first round tennis match at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 11, 2008

Sania Mirza reacts during her women's first round tennis match

Sania Mirza of India reacts during her women's first round tennis match against Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 11, 2008.

Sania Mirza fan of Aisam-ul Haq

ndia�s tennis sensation Sania Mirza has expressed willingness to play exhibition matches in Pakistan, but added that she was yet to receive a formal invitation in this regard.

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president Syed Dilawar Abbas has last month announced inviting Sania Mirza to play a couple of mixed doubles matches to promote tennis in the country. �Sania has even promised to waive off her match fee and will charge only two million rupees as appearance money,� he had stated.

She said that during her younger says she had played tennis in Pakistan and found people very friendly.

�I have yet to receive a formal invitation to play exhibition matches in Pakistan. But whenever an opportunity comes, I would visit Pakistan to play matches,� The News quoted her as saying in Beijing.

Sania said that she knew that she had got followers in Pakistan. �I know Pakistan tennis followers love my game and want to see me in action. I am ready to come to Pakistan to play exhibition matches,� she said.

She praised Pakistan tennis star Aisam-ul Haq and said that he could improve his ranking further provided he keeps on playing circuit tournaments. �He is a very good player, even better than his ranking suggests and has the ability to improve his ranking further,� she said.

Wrist injury forces Sania to pull out of US Open

After a heart-breaking Olympic debut at Beijing, Sania Mirza on Thursday pulled out of the US Open, as she is yet to recover from a nagging wrist injury.

The Hyederabadi player has been advised a three-week rest by her doctor while the fourth and last Grand Slam of the year kicks off from Monday.

“Sania Mirza has been advised complete rest for an initial period of three weeks by her consulting doctor after undergoing intensive tests,” a press statement said.

Sania, who hurt her right wrist in March and was operated upon in April, was troubled again by the injury and had to concede her opening round match in the Olympics against Iveta Benesova of Czech Republic after trailing 1-6 1-2.

Earlier, she had also skipped entire clay court season including the French Open.

India’s numero uno women’s player said she was disappointed for not being able to participate in the elite event.

“I’ve always done well at the US Open and it is very disappointing for me to miss the Grand Slam on my favourite surface due to my wrist injury.” she said.

Sania to miss us open; Sania disappointed

Sania Mirza will miss the U.S. Open that gets underway on August 25 in Flushing Meadows, according to her father Imran Mirza.

In a statement released here on Thursday, Imran Mirza said that the Indian ace, who struggled to come to terms with her game since undergoing a wrist surgery to repair a torn capsule, had been advised complete rest for an initial period of three weeks by her doctor after undergoing intensive tests.

“The injury had forced her to retire in her first round singles match in the Beijing Olympics,” Imran added.

Sania injured her right wrist during the Indiana Wells tournament in late March, necessitating a surgery in Miami in April.

“I’ve always done well at the U.S. Open and it is very disappointing for me to miss a Grand Slam on my favourite surface due to my wrist injury,” Sania said.

Sania Mirza, Indian Tennis star Camping at Bhupathy Village

Sania Mirza, Indian Tennis star Camping at Bhupathy Village in Bangalore