‘A proud Indian’ Sania dedicates US Open title to Telangana and India
New York/ Delhi: Sania Mirza captured her third Grand Slam mixed doubles title on Friday, winning the US Open crown with Brazilian partner Bruno Soares and then declared herself "a proud Indian".
Mirza and Soares defeated American Abigail Spears and Mexico's Santiago Gonazalez 6-1, 2-6, 11-9.
Soares claimed a second US Open mixed doubles title to go with his 2012 victory with Russian Ekaterina Makarova. Mirza had lifted mixed doubles titles at the 2009 Australian Open and 2012 French Open with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.
Mirza's win comes just a month after she was described by a Hindu nationalist politician as "Pakistan's daughter-in-law" and unfit to be a representative of India.
The blast was delivered by K. Laxman, a regional legislator belonging to the national ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who questioned the credentials of Mirza to be "brand ambassador" for the country's newest state Telengana.
Mirza, 27, and married to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, broke down in tears over the controversy.
"It was tough, you know. Just before I left there was a lot happening at home. But, yeah. Still a proud Indian, I guess, five weeks later," said Mirza, whose women's doubles campaign with Zimbabwe partner Cara Black ended on Thursday at the hands of Martian Hingis and Flavia Pennetta.
Mirza and Soares, playing their first event together, needed six match points to take victory on Friday with the Indian star celebrating by performing an enthusiastic bunny hop into the arms of the Brazilian.
"I got tight. He held his nerve. I needed that a little bit with my serve. I was serving well till then," said Mirza, who double faulted on the first match point.
"I was making a lot of first serves. It's never easy. No matter how many you win, never easy to close it out."
Sania dedicates US Open title to Telangana and India:
Left teary-eyed after her Indianness was put into question just weeks back, tennis star Sania Mirza dedicated her US Open title to the country and the new state of Telangana, where her appointment as brand ambassador triggered a political furore.
On Friday, the first-time combination of Sania and Brazil's Bruno Soares clicked brilliantly as they secured a close win in the final to win the mixed doubles trophy.
"I am very happy, it's great to win it with Bruno. For the first time we played together, it's been great two weeks. I dedicate this victory to everybody in India, my country, and to the state of Telangana and all people of Telangana," Sania told PTI from New York after winning the final.
"I am extremely ecstatic, it's a dream come true, hopefully many more will come," said the 27-year-old.
Asked if the controversy played on her mind during the US Open campaign, Sania said she believes in moving forward and remains focussed on her game after stepping into the court.
"I don't think we should focus on the negatives," said Sania, who is first Indian female player and only the third from the country after Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes to have won Grand Slam titles.
