Elena-Maria defeats Sania Mirza and Zheng Jie

Elena-Maria secured a 6-4, 5-7, 10-8 win in the exhibition match that lasted almost two hours.

Elena-Maria started the match strongly and were heading for an easy win in the first set after taking a 5-2 lead but Sania and Zheng Jie decided to make it interesting for the fans.

The Asian pair broke Elena's serve to reduce the deficit to 3-5 before making a comeback from 0-40 down in the ninth game to stay in the set at 4-5.

However, Maria ended a possible comeback by winning her service game to secure the first set 6-4.

Sania-Zheng Jie drew level when they took the second set 7-5. However, Elena-Maria were the better pair on court yesterday and secured the match by winning the decider, a tie-break, 10-8. 

In the singles matches today, Zheng Jie will play Maria in the first tie with the Russian having a slight edge while Elena will be the player to beat when she plays Sania in the second tie.
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Sania Mirza, Maria Kirilenko, Elena Dementieva and Zheng Jie sign autographs

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Sania Mirza, Maria Kirilenko, Elena Dementieva and Zheng Jie sign autographs for fans at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Sania mirza to lead charge

Malaysia  : Sania and China's Zheng Jie will play against 2004 Athens Olympics gold medallist and World No 5 Elena Dementieva of Russia and her compatriot Maria Kirilenko in three exhibition matches over the next two days.

Sania is not a newcomer to Malaysian shores as she was a regular in ITF junior tournaments here several years ago and she is delighted to be back.

"I've been to Malaysia on many occasions as a junior and for holidays a couple of years ago.

"It's one of my favourite places to be away from tennis, a home away from home."

Elena said the Showdown of Champions is the kind of publicity needed to promote women's tennis.

"This is the first time I'm playing here. I've heard a lot of nice things about Malaysia and I'm going to enjoy playing in the Showdown of Champions," said Elena.

Zheng Jie said her focus is on thrilling the crowd and playing her best tennis.

Despite not saying much, the stylish Maria is expected to be a crowd puller when the event begins at Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam today.

The doubles match between Sania-Zheng Jie and Elena-Maria at 7.30pm today is the curtain raiser.

Maria will play Zheng Jie in the first singles at 8.30pm tomorrow followed by the much anticipated Sania-Elena clash.

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Sania Mirza pose

Tennis players Zheng Jie of China (L), Elena Dementieva of Russia (2nd L), Sania Mirza of India (2nd R) and Maria Kirilenko of Russia pose ahead of their exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur December 18, 2009
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Sania mirza has a dream to fullfill

Mirza now has a dream of breaking into the top 20 of the WTA standings next year. Mirza was planning to quit the scene but the inclusion of the mixed doubles at the 2012 London Olympics has motivated her to continue playing in a bid to end her career on a high.

Come this weekend, Mirza is set to have some fun as she joins Russians Maria Kirilenko, Elena Dementiva and China's Zheng Jie at the Showdown of Champions at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam.

"I've been to Malaysia before. I’ve visited Penang and KL. I played several junior tournaments and enjoyed vacations with my family in Malaysia. It's nice to be back," said Mirza.

"Many things have happened throughout my career and I guess it is fair for me to aim to be in the top 20 by next year. The only way to the top is through hard work and by spending more hours on the courts," she added.

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Sania mirza @ a lingree show

Sania mirza @ a lingree show

Sania mirza want Gold medal in london olympics

Inclusion of mixed doubles event in the London Olympics has come as fresh motivation for Sania Mirza to continue playing and the Indian tennis ace feels it would be best opportunity for India to win a medal.

The International Olympic Committee had recently given its nod to the mixed doubles event for the 2012 Summer Games.

"I am excited because we probably have the best chance of getting a medal in mixed doubles. I think that has put a halt to my retirement plans now," Sania said.

The Hyderabadi though parried a question on who she would like to partner out of two legendary Indian players -- Leander Paes or Mahesh Bhupathi.

"I'm very lucky to be (playing) in this generation, to have the opportunity to be around Mahesh and Leander, two of the best doubles players of all times. I am very excited.
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Sania mirza walks the ramp

Tennis star sania mirza at a fashion show

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Interview : Sania mirza for olympics?

Courtesy : ESPN STAR

Mixed doubles has been added to the 2012 London Olympics tennis programme but Sania Mirza is not thinking about it as yet.

By Bhagya Ayyavoo

After clinching her first Major title at the 2009 Australian Open in mixed doubles, Sania Mirza reveals to MobileESPN that she’ll team up with former doubles No. 1 Virginia Ruano Pascual. The Spaniard has 11 Grand Slams to her name, including 10 in women’s doubles. Excerpts from an exclusive interview.

Bhagya Ayyavoo: How will you remember the 2009 season, professionally as well as personally?

Sania Mirza: For Indian tennis, it was an extremely good year. Mahesh and I won the Australian Open mixed doubles title while Leander won two Grand Slams in doubles. Yuki Bhambri won a junior Grand Slam and we also reached the World Group in Davis Cup after several years. Personally, I am happy with the way things have gone for me despite some injury issues. I won my maiden Grand Slam title and finished in the top 100 for the fifth consecutive year.

BA: Which was the most memorable and satisfying match that you played this season?

SM: Beating world No.12, Marion Bartoli in Osaka in singles and winning the final of the Australian Open in mixed were memorable for me.

BA: You bagged the Lexington Challenger title this year, that too coming right after your engagement. How important was that success?

SM: Every title is important in building one’s confidence level and since it came right after my engagement, it helped in putting a stop to baseless rumours that claimed I had lost focus on tennis.

BA: With so many teenagers emerging and many other top players coming out of retirements, what will your philosophy be on your seventh year on the tour?

SM: The philosophy has been the same all through my tennis career - to keep working hard and to go on improving.

BA: Given the gruelling nature of the tour, will you be selective with the tournaments you play in 2010?

SM: Yes, I may need to be selective.

BA: Fitness is obviously key to your game. Do your injuries or your propensity to get injured haunt you at the back of your mind when you play top-10 players?

SM: Injuries are part of a sportsperson’s life. If you are injured, it will affect your game irrespective of whether you are playing a top-10 player or a top-200 player.

BA: In spite of you not being in the Top 20 you’re always a feared opponent. Does it make it any tougher or easier for you on court?

SM: I don’t look at it that way. When I enter the court, I always think positively and believe I have a chance to win - whether I am playing a top-20 player or a rank outsider makes no difference.

BA: Some say, one can’t prepare to play a top-20 player until you’re in the Top 30. How true is that in your case?

SM: For me, ranking is just a number and I believe whoever plays well on that particular day will be the winner.

BA: Speaking of Grand Slams, what are the odds for you to repeat the 2005 US Open Round 4 performance?
SM: I am a positive person and I think I can do well in future as well.

BA: You reached your career-best 27 in 2007, and you have always been quoted as a top-30 player. Now, 58 on the WTA singles list, have you set yourself some target for next year?

SM: My goal is always to work hard and to go on improving. If I can stay injury-free, there is no reason why I cannot better my ranking.

BA: Former India No.1 Nirupama Vaidyanathan made a short comeback at the Pune ITF in November this year. Do you think that will help India, at a time when there’s no one to support you at the top?

SM: It’s a great achievement by Niru and I feel very happy for her. However, it is disappointing that no new players seem to have emerged in Indian women’s tennis for a long time now.

BA: What do you enjoy most and least about life on the Tour? And how do you think that will change post engagement?

SM: I enjoy playing tennis and that’s what keeps me going. The travel is tiresome.

BA: You had reasonable success in the doubles events with Francesca Schiavone and Chia Jung Chuang this season. What’s the plan for 2010?

SM: I will be playing with Virginia Ruano Pascual in the Australian Open and if we do well, we’ll continue to play together.

BA: With the 2012 Olympics fast approaching, do you have any London dreams, especially that’s a venue where you will have a lot of support?

SM: 2012 is still a long way off.

BA: Now that you’re engaged, are you happy that the link-up stories and other rumours have stopped? 

SM: Yes. But after a point, the stories had become so ridiculous that they had stopped affecting me.

BA: You certainly have many more years to go, but have you ever thought of life beyond that?

SM: I would like to remain associated with tennis after my retirement and want to give back to the game that has given me so much in life. Maybe, I would get into coaching.

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Sania Mirza goes to Australia with Virginia Ruano

Sania Mirza will pair up with former doubles number one Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain in the Australian Open next month.

Sania had reasonable success in the doubles events with Francesca Schiavone and Chia Jung Chuang this season but the 23-year-old will now team up with Pascual, who has 11 Grand Slams to her name, including 10 in doubles.

"I will be playing with Virginia Ruano Pascual in the Australian Open and if we do well, we'll continue to play together," Sania said.

Sania, who won the 2009 Australian Open mixed doubles title combining with Mahesh Bhupathi, said the season gone by has been extremely good as she finished inside the top 100 for the five successive year.

"For Indian tennis, it was an extremely good year.

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Sania mirza - new challenges ahead in 2010

AFTER a roller- coaster ride in the season gone by, Sania Mirza is looking for a fresh start in 2010.

Currently ranked 58 on the WTA computer, the highlight of her year was not in singles, but winning the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open with Mahesh Bhupathi.But Sania remains unfazed

when asked about the challenges ahead.

" I am reasonably satisfied at finishing my fifth consecutive year in the top 100. Apart from my wrist that troubled me occasionally, I think I am right now in my best physical shape ever and that actually helped me to stay in the top- 60," Sania told MAIL TODAY on Monday.

A lot of people are wondering if Sania can again scale the peaks or will be content to settle down with fiance Sohrab next year.

" I am feeling pretty confident of using my past experience in improving my ranking during the 2010 season. As long as I am playing professionally, tennis will always remain my top priority," said Sania, putting to rest all speculation about her future.

Sania is working a lot on her fitness and gearing up for the grind ahead. Apart from the WTA Tour events and the Grand Slams, she is fully focussed on doing well at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

" The Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games are very important events for me. And I'm excitedly looking forward to playing in them," says Sania.
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Sania survived 2009 with pain killers

Sania Mirza had a one constant in 2009; her bottled companion of pain-killers. It was that kind of a season. Still, the 23-year-old Hyderabadi, who started the year at 101 and finished at 58, was happy to be competing.

"After sitting out for almost seven months last year it was a relief to be out there again," she said. "But it wasn’t easy. I played in about 19 tournaments this year, and half of them were with the help of painkillers. There were times when in a period of 24 hours I was taking an unimaginable number of pain-killers and even then it wasn’t like I was playing without pain. Still, it was a good year, hugely challenging and a great learning experience."

What Sania refuses to acknowledge just yet, is the side-effects of the medication, even though she has already swallowed the bitter pill of physical and mental lethargy. She managed to get on court and for most part the pain had been blocked, but she wasn’t the same player. The edge was decidedly missing as was so obvious in later stages of tournaments in the summer and the hardcourt season.

"The truth is that I came back from a career threatening injury and the fact is that I have a painful wrist that needs to be managed," Sania said of her right wrist that went under the knife in Miami last summer. "I started the year with no expectations and a huge amount of pressure. I like pressure and mostly I perform well under pressure. If I hadn’t done reasonably well in my first few weeks my ranking could have dropped out of the top-200. That would’ve been a long climb back."

The key to Sania’s 2010 season will be in how she applies the lessons of last year. Most importantly, she has shown that she can manage her injury and handle the excruciating pain that’s not only part of the soreness of the wrist, but also part of her treatment, but there’s only so much any player, however gifted, can push and punish her body. Sania will have to pick her tournaments carefully and balance her schedule. She has a long and busy year ahead with the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games scheduled for the end of the year. Her task becomes doubly tough as the calendar eats into the off-season.

Sania’s management team has ensured she has used her off-season well, flying in Australian trainer Len Chong for a three-week stint in Hyderabad. Chong worked on strengthening her wrist, after the big-hitting pro received intensive treatment in November. On Thursday, she joins Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna in Mumbai for a two-week camp where she will work with American coach Scott Davidoff and South African trainer Shyamal Vallabhjee before flying to Kuala Lumpur for an exhibition event.

"I’ve been training for a month now," Sania said. "I’m pain free even though I’m prepared for the fact that the pressures of matchplay tell differently on your body. The focus of my training has been ‘fitter, faster and stronger’ and that’s the kind of year I’m hoping to have. I have said for sometime now that I like the way I’m hitting the ball. I’m a better player, more experienced and more confident."

Sania begins 2010 with two $200,000 in Auckland and Hobart, after which she will head out to Melbourne for the year’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open, beginning January 18.

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Sizzling Sania Mirza in action

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Sania Mirza remains static

Sania Mirza was static on both the singles and doubles rankings charts released by WTA Monday.

The Hyderabad girl was at No.58 on the singles list while the doubles table had her holding on to last week’s No.37.

The slide continued for Somdev Dev Varman who slipped a further three places, after a drop of two spots had seen him finish last week at No.124, to be at No.127.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, the doubles specialists, too, hung on to their positions from the last week — No.7 and 8 respectively.

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