Hyderabad: After 22 years of toil on the tennis courts, Sania Mirza clawed her way to the top of the doubles rankings table on Sunday via a title victory at the WTA Family Circle Cup in Charleston, USA, alongside Martina Hingis.
Their 6-0, 6-4 demolition of Casey Dellacqua and Darija Jurak in the final gave Sania 470 points that took her tally to 7,965, past Italian duo Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci’s 7,640 apiece.
Sania became the first Indian woman tennis player to achieve the world no.1 rank in doubles.
“This has been a dream. It’s not really sunk in yet. I feel very honoured that I am the first Indian woman ever to have achieved the world no.1 ranking — it’s been an incredible five weeks,” Sania told this newspaper after pocketing her third straight title.
The ride to the top has at times been rough with career-threatening injuries and surgeries to wrist and both knees but Sania has taken them in her stride. “It’s been pretty tough with all the injuries but that’s part of a sportsperson’s life.
“I guess that’s exactly why everyone doesn’t become No.1. Yes, I’ve been through a lot of strife in my career but I am sure that’s all worth it now,” Sania, who began playing doubles exclusively midway through 2012, said.
Sania, who started playing tennis at 6, relayed a strong message to budding players.
“Believe in yourself. It can take you places,” the 28-year-old said, adding, “When I started, quite a few people ticked me off. Many mocked saying ‘what do you think, you’ll play Wimbledon one day?’ I don’t know where they are now. If you believe in yourself and fight against all odds, anything is possible.”
Sania also acknowledged contributions from various quarters on her climb to the top.
“It’s been a long journey, but an amazing one. Everyone in my team — all my coaches, my family, friends and a host of well-wishers — has contributed to this. I am the no.1 but all those who played a part in my career and the entire country is part of my success,” she said.
“Tennis looks like an individual sport but it’s actually a team game. It takes a lot of people to put this together. I don’t think I could have made this without my support team (of coaches, trainers, physios). They’ve had a huge role to play,” she added.
Of all the partners she has played it, who did she jell the most with? “Of course I’m gonna say Martina (Hingis) but there have been many partners I have won multiple titles with. Bethanie (Mattek-Sands) and me have had a lot of success together. Cara (Black) is another teammate I did well with,” Sania said.
Now that you’ve reached the top, it appears there’s nowhere to go? “Oh! No… life goes on. I need to keep playing and getting better.”
Sania's road to World No 1:
