Mumbai: In three of the four Grand Slams in 2013, Sania Mirza played with different partners and the farthest she reached was the semifinal of the US Open.
The Hyderabadi, despite winning an impressive 19 career titles including five in 2013, has yet to win a women’s doubles title in any of the Grand Slams.
She teamed up with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black towards the end of the season and picked up back-to-back titles in Tokyo and Beijing. With the Australian Open slated to begin in three weeks time, the Indian star is hopeful of a first at one of the big four with Black.
The duo trained in Hyderabad during the off-season and will play in Sydney before the first major of the year. “Cara and me haven’t lost a match, we won the two tournaments we played. We are looking forward to our new partnership. We are really excited about it,” Sania said on Saturday.
Cara, a winner of 10 Grand Slam and 57 WTA career titles, was recently crowned sportsperson of the year in her country for the fourth time in eight years and Sania said her partner’s rich experience is a huge benefit. “I have a good partnership with Cara and we get along. More than that she is very experienced. She has done it all. Be it No.1 in the world or win Grand Slams, so I learn a lot from her.”
For the mixed doubles, the 27-year-old will be partnering Romanian Horia Tecau.
