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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
World No 32 Sania Mirza has not set any goals but hopes to end the 2008 season on a brighter note by finishing within the top 20.
At a function where she appeared as the brand ambassador of Deutesche Bank on the eve of her 21st birthday here on Tuesday, Sania said she was trying her best to push up her ranking.
"I am playing my best and will strive to achieve a ranking of 20 before the end of the 2008 season."
She is presently ranked 27 on the WTA tour-ending race for the year 2007.
Mirza, whose earning this year touched USD 395,597 and who had a win-loss ratio of 30-19 in singles, parried questions on the issue of fixing of matches in the men's circuit, saying, "It does not happen in the women's circuit to my knowledge. I have not experienced any such instances. If it is happening on the ATP Circuit, it is not good for the game. I am not that experienced to make any comment on such things."
Terming Justine Henin as a terror on the WTA circuit, she said, "Henin is lady Federer. She is what Federer (Roger) is on the men's circuit. She is a terror for all women players and she wins whatever tournament that she competes."
When asked about her injury woes, she said she had played more number of matches this year. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
Sania, who was at 59 last week, jumped 11 places to be at 48 following her fine run in the USD 1.3 million Acura Classic in San Diego, according to the WTA rankings released on Monday.
Sania also becomes the first Indian since Ramesh Krishnan to break into the top-50 in world rankings. Vijay Amritraj was ranked 16th in July 1980, while Ramesh Krishnan was ranked 23rd in 1985. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
Sania Mirza became the first-ever Indian girl to have won a Grand Slam title when she triumphed in the girls' doubles event at Wimbledon on Sunday, partnering Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.
Mirza and Kleybanova lost the first set to the pair of Katerina Bohmova of Czech Republic and Michaela Krajicek of the Netherlands before rallying to comfortably take the next two sets for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in the final.
The 16-year-old Sania, ranked world number 10 among junior girls, got her revenge for the defeat Bohmova and Krajicek inflicted on her in the semi-finals of the French Open last month when she partnered compatriot Sanaa Bhambri.
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
The Queen is back home after scripting history by becoming the first Indian woman tennis player to win three medals, two silver and one gold in the Doha Asian Games. Sania Mirza said that receiving the gold medal on the podium along with Leander Paes, to the accompaniment of the national anthem, was the "most memorable and emotional moment" of her career.
In an exclusive chat with The Hindu after her return to Hyderabad on Thursday morning, Sania said that she was playing at her best now. "The transformation after the three-week stint with South African physical trainer Heath Mathew has been unbelievable," she said.
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
Off court, however, Indian Mirza has got plenty in common with her fellow 18-year-old. Mirza has already had a taste of the celebrity that surrounds Sharapova even though her greatest achievement to date is to reach the third round of the Australian Open in January and to win a low-key WTA tournament in her hometown of Hyderabad.
That she was the first Indian woman to accomplish either feat has sent her popularity soaring among her one billion compatriots. In five months, she has become a sporting idol, a fashion icon and like Sharapova, needs her own entourage of burly security guards whenever she steps out from the confines of her own home. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
That mass adulation is reserved for the Tendulkars and the Dravids. But alongwith fame came public scrutiny. An Islamic cleric issued a fatwa banning her from wearing short skirts on courts. Her comments on safe sex resulted in public activist groups burning her effigies and demonstrating in front of her house in Hyderabad. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
Sania Mirza was born in Capricorn Ascendant with exalted Mars situated therein forming Ruchaka yoga- one of the Panchamahapurush Yoga indicating strong character and will power. Adding to this, Venus- the Lord of 10th house (house of power, success and fame) is situated in its own house confirming success and fame. Mars and Saturn are in exchange adding more flavor to her strength. Sun is in the 10th house forming Neechabhanga Rajayoga. Rahu is strongly placed in the 3rd house suggesting tremendous will power and enterprising nature.
She has had setbacks until June 2006 in Sun-Rahu period. Sun and Rahu were well placed but their mutual placement forming Shadastaka created problems in her career. It created controversies and an environment to malign her image.
She gained further international fame and won matches during August to October 2006. Oct 06 was especially favorable for her and improved her ratings in World Tennis.
The period of Sun-Jupiter would further improve her ratings between February and July 2007. She may win some major tournaments and important matches between July 2007 and June 2008 which is a Sun-Saturn period. She would be honored during that phase.
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
Sania MirzaAnd now she is cool, sitting on the side lawns of the Sports Authority of the Andhra Pradesh tennis courts, talking about being paired with one of women's tennis ambassadors, Frenchwoman Mary Pierce, in the doubles category at the US $140,000 WTA Indian Open in Hyderabad.
As we talk about her maiden tourney in our neighbouring country, she says, "I have been thrice to Pakistan and every time the visit has been pleasant. But when the plane hijack happened we had to finish our games in two days and rush; it was scary during that time."
Dressed in off-the-court tennis gear after a morning training session, Mirza is busy getting up-to-date with her co-players, discussing opponents, strategies, and at the same time surprised at Isha Lakhani getting an upper hand over her opponent in her first round qualifier.
"Oh, she is winning," says Mirza, obviously delighted that her colleague is playing well.
Indeed, Mirza has always delivered that air of confidence without caring too much about the hype
"I have been lucky to have played with the likes of Leander and now with Mary Pierce. I hope to learn a few things from her as I did from Leander."
As tennis fans across the globe are overawed by the amazing talent of Paes, so is the country's top woman player.
"He is so fast on the court and so encouraging. And the best part is in spite of such a wide chasm between our achievements he makes you feel at his level."
Mirza believes the mixed doubles bronze at the Asian Games is the most important medal of her career thus far.
As her eyes move from court to court, scanning the matches of various qualifiers, our talk drifts to the WTA event in her own city, Hyderabad. Is it the most important event of her career?
"Well, I have played the Grand Slams... yes, but definitely this is my first instance of rubbing shoulders with the seniors... and that with some of the best in the game."
Mirza has not played active tennis since she won the National Games gold medal in December. She was at her peak then despite a minor ligament stress in her left knee. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
 Sania Mirza
She revealed that she has no qualms to get into films if it would promote and inspire young people to take up tennis. She however said that marriage is not on the cards though many have asked her to settle down. |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
Sania Mirza started playing tennis at the tender age of six in the Nizam Club Hyderabad, till the age of 12 she was able to get the sponsors and started to train at the Sinnet Tennis Academy, Secunderabad at the professional level later she shifted to Ace Tennis academy in United States.
She started her professional career at the age of 17 years; her first international tournament was World junior championship, Jakarta. She created history in India when in the year 2005 she raced to the 3rd and 4th rounds of many Grand Slam tournaments. Soon she became the youth Icon of India.
For her services in the field of tennis the government of India felicitated her with Arjuna award in the year of 2004. In the year 2005 Saniya became the hottest talking point in the Indian tennis scenario when she went up to 4th round in U.S. Open and up to 3rd round in Australian open tournaments.
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