Sania Mirza eyes a few more hits

Sania Mirza is all smiles as she poses with her Australian Open women’s doubles winner’s trophy at her home in Hyderabad on Monday. (Photo: Deepak Deshpande

There’s no stopping Sania Mirza. Barely has a month passed in 2016 and she has four titles — three on court and one off it. With the women’s doubles crowns at Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and the Padma Bhushan tucked in between, it’s been a dream start to the year.

Home for a day after the whirlwind first stretch on the gruelling circuit, the Hyderabadi basked in her stupdendous success. “It’s been an amazing time,” Sania exclaimed.

“I don’t think I’ve begun any year on such a perfect note in professional terms. We haven’t lost a match, and everything that went on with it. For me it’s been a dream start to the year... I know it’s humanly impossible to keep it as perfect as this but I hope it continues — we’ll try and keep it going as long as we can,” she said.

The country’s third highest civilian honour bestowed on her by the government of India has surely put a spring in her step. “The Padma Bhushan was a complete surprise for me because I was so engrossed in playing at the Sydney event and had no idea what was happening where. I actually found out on Twitter. Mahesh (Bhupathi) called me and said someone had called him from the home ministry asking for my number. I didn’t even know what it was such a surprise in the middle of a tournament!”

It’s been quite a ride with Martina Hingis. What according to her does her partner bring to the court “Many things,” Sania quips before explaining their team-up. “She made a comeback to the circuit three years ago, didn’t win a Slam and was looking for a perfect partner. It was the same with me — I came close to winning a women’s doubles Slam but never could cross that line. So maybe it was that X factor that brought us, and keeps us, together,” she says.

When it comes to the court, their ability to take tight situations head-on is what makes Sania and Hingis a top team. “Our biggest strength is that we both come out playing good under pressure, which is why we come through a lot of close matches even when we are not playing at our best.

“Then there are the other skill aspects — she plays very well from the forecourt, I am strong from the back court and can set her up; she finishes points really well,” Sania says.

Then, there is that strong friendship. “We were not quite friends when we started playing — it was more of a business relationship and we thought we could play well together. But with time, we discovered we both think alike on a lot of things and it kind of helped us through a lot of tough moments on the court. Over the last one year we have developed a great relationship. Ours is a Dream Team, so to say,” she laughs.

Mixed luck indoubles Now that she’s got a grip on the no. 1 doubles ranking, is Sania looking at a regular partner in the mixed doubles “The thing with mixed doubles is it happens only four times a year (only at the Grand Slams) so a lot is down to luck — whether you’ve played a match the day before, or on that day It’s possible that if you play four times a year, you may have an occasional bad day, that’s why you don’t have consistent winners in mixed doubles,” she explains.

“But I am playing with (Ivan) Dodig at the French Open too after having made the semis at the Australian Open.”

Contentious Olympic pick Mixed doubles in an Olympic year invariably leads to the national question — who will partner Sania Mirza at the quadrennial Games. Upset with the events leading to team selection for London 2012, the 28-year-old served a safe second serve for the Rio Olympics in August though.

“Five months is a very long time in a tennis player’s life, so it’s very difficult to say what will happen. But a lot of things with that one are very up in the air — the only thing that is certain is that I am going to be in the world top 10. I don’t think Rohan (Bopanna) knows he’s going to be in the top 10 I don’t think Leander (Paes) is anywhere close to the top 10 at this point of time so we’ll have to wait and take a call closer to the deadline (for entries) for the event,” she said.

“All I can say is that the best team will be put forward to try and win a medal.”

Stress factor How does she relax “I’ve forgotten,” Sania laughs, before adding, “usually I don’t get out of the house for three days — I don’t see sunlight. It’s like hitting a wall, I don’t want to move a muscle.”