She’s accomplished what no Indian tennis player has ever. By winning the prestigious WTA Tour doubles title with Zimbabwean Cara Black in Singapore, Telangana’s brand ambassador Sania Mirza has literally scaled the summit.
Featuring the top eight combinations in the world, the WTA Tour posed a tough challenge to the Indo-Zimbabwean pair, who, nevertheless were up to it.
“It is an unforgettable feeling. What a way to end the year!”” exclaimed a delighted Sania.
It was also a fitting farewell for 10-time Grand Slam winner Black, one of Sania’s most successful partners and among her best friends on the tennis circuit, who has decided to part ways citing personal reasons.
It was her patriotic fervour that bade Sania represent the country in the recent Asian Games at Incheon although it meant losing a straight 900 WTA points as she had to skip the Wuhan Open in the run-up to the WTA finals.
“Thank God, everything went well. I won the mixed doubles gold in the Asiad, bronze in the women’s doubles and then this WTA title. It is an awesome feeling to compete with the best in business and come out on top. It has been a wonderful partnership with Cara,” said the two-time Grand Slam winner from the City of Pearls.
Her parents – Imran and Nasima – are quite naturally elated. “She is the world champion in women’s doubles now. It is a great day for all of us in the family as only we know what kind of sacrifices Sania has to make to keep winning major titles,” said a beaming Imran.