01/1110 Interesting Facts about Tennis star Sania Mirza
It’s no secret that Sania Mirza is India's most celebrated Tennis star and is also the current World No.1 in Women’s Doubles. Born to a middle-class Muslim family from Hyderabad, this Tennis star has had quite an epic journey. From breaking perceptions that India cannot produce a woman Tennis star to winning grand slams for the country, Sania’s story of success is one full of sheer determination and willpower. Here are 10 interesting facts about India's woman Tennis sensation.
02/11Sania Mirza first held a Tennis racquet at the age of 6
Born on November 15, 1986, Sania Mirza first held a Tennis racquet at the age of 6. Her first coach was Krishna Bhupathi, the father of Tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi. Later on, she learnt the Tennis game from coach Roger Anderson.
03/11She started training under her father at the age of 12
Sania started training under her father at the age of 12. Imran Mirza nearly risked his Journalism career in quest of chasing his daughter’s dreams.
04/11She won the Wimbledon Junior Championship in 2003
Sania Mirza showed glimpses of brilliance on the court when she was a teenager. She went on to win the coveted Wimbledon Junior Championship in 2003.
05/11She is the first Indian woman to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title
Sania is the first Indian woman to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title. She won the title in 2004, after the Wimbledon win. In the early stage of her tennis career, as a junior player, Sania won 10 Singles and 13 doubles titles.
06/11Initially, a leading sports brand sponsored her training
During her initial days of struggle, it was a leading sports brand that sponsored her training and took a little burden off her parent’s shoulders. Sania Mirza has repaid the brand back by becoming one of its brand ambassadors.
07/11She began her career as a singles player but switched to doubles later on
Sania began her career as a singles player but switched to doubles after finding it more suiting to her game. She won her first grand slam with Mahesh Bhupathi at the Australian Open in 2009. She was also recognized by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) as the “Best Newcomer of the Year” in 2005.
08/11She is the first Indian woman Tennis player to earn more than US $1 million
Sania is the first Indian women Tennis player to earn more than US $1 million in prize money. She is also the highest ranked Indian women’s player since 2003. Sania also bagged 27 WTA and 4 ITF doubles titles along with 1 WTA and 14 ITF singles titles.
09/11She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2004
Sania Mirza was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2004 and became the second Tennis player after Leander Paes to be conferred upon a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2015. Time magazine named her “50 heroes of Asia” in 2005.
10/11Sania is the first Indian woman to win a Women’s Doubles Grand Slam
Sania Mirza is the first Indian woman to win a Women’s Doubles Grand Slam. In fact, she has won 3 Women Doubles Grand Slams, all with the same partner, Martina Hingis. She won the titles of the 2009 Australian Open, 2012 French Open, and 2014 US Open.