Hyderabad: Tennis ace Sania Mirza on Monday launched the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy’s Grassroot Level wing for players between the ages of three and eight, next to her home in Jubilee Hills here.
The idea was to introduce budding players to tennis, she said. “As a tennis player I’ve had lot of difficulties coming to know what to do and where to go as a child and knowing how much to practise,” Sania said.
“It is actually my mother and her friend’s idea and obviously the Mirza family supports it. Tennis today is too competitive and you have to start when you are three or four years old,” Sania explained. “The professionals, the biggest of champions, have always started at the ages of 4, 5 and 6,” she added.
“We are still waiting for the next Sania, the next Mahesh (Bhupathi) and Leanders (Paes) to come and this is just a small way of contributing to it,” she said adding “It is right next to my house and I will obviously give some time as well.
“The concept is to get as many kids as possible to the academy where we are going to play with soft, colourful balls to make it attractive and easier for them,” Sania said, adding, “At that age, I don’t think they’d understand the concept of forehand or backhand. It is more about fun, enjoyment. You have to get them to try and love the game first before they want to actually make it their profession.”
