Sania Mirza hopes to get lucky

Sania Mirza will head to the hard courts of the United States determined to prove that she is a better player than her early French Open and Wimbledon exits suggest.

Mirza was knocked out of the first round at Wimbledon by Elena Dementieva, the Russian seventh seed 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.

But Sania believes the US hard court season will see a much-needed change in fortune. "Luck has not really been on my side. I played Myskina who loves clay in Paris and Dementieva here," said Mirza. "I'm not very disappointed but I played a decent match. I've always learnt to take positives out of my game."

Dementieva Dispatches Sania Mirza

Seventh seed Elena Dementieva moved into the second round of The Championships after a close 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 encounter with India’s Sania Mirza.

During the first set, Dementieva, making her eighth visit to the grass courts of SW19, insisted on serving to the Mirza forehand. After seeing the ball consistently returned at twice the rate, the Russian, who lost in the fourth round last year to compatriot Anastasia Myskina, started to mix things up, clawing her way back into the match from 5-2 down and forcing a tie-break. In truth however, it was Mirza who had squandered the initiative, having led by a double break and throwing away both with double faults at break point down.

Mirza, who was featured on the cover of Asia’s Time magazine in its special feature on “Asia’s Heroes”, was playing with strappings on her right elbow as well as on both ankles. She started brightly in the tie-break by bludgeoning her forehands to all parts of the court.

Dementieva, who won the pair’s only previous encounter on the hard courts of Indian Wells earlier this year, stood firm and won a critical 24-stroke-rally when the score was locked at five points all. She won the set on her first opportunity after another fantastic rally ended with a backhand winner from the tall Russian.

Mirza is no stranger to grass courts having won the Wimbledon junior doubles title in 2003. However, she could not edge ahead in a topsy-turvy second set which saw another seven breaks of serve. Mirza was making her second appearance in the event having lost last year to Svetlana Kuznetsova on Centre Court, and managed just three winners compared to fifteen in the first set.

Dementieva kept her nerve when it mattered and secured a place in the second round where she will play American Meghann Shaughnessy.

Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/reports/2006-06-28/200606281151520408562.html

Sania to face Dementieva in round one

Sania Mirza starts her Wimbledon campaign later on Wednesday with a tough first round match against seventh seed Elena Dementieva.

The Russian won their previous encounter earlier this year at Indian Wells.

Sania reached the second round at Wimbledon last year and is a junior doubles champion.

Sania's best performance in a grand slam came last year when she reached the fourth round of the US Open.

Sania strives to get even with Dementieva

London, June 27: Sania Mirza is undaunted by the tough draw handed out to her at the Wimbledon grand slam and hopes to do one-set better than last time when she takes on seventh seed Elena Dementieva in the singles opening round.

"Obviously, this is a very tough first round and the problem with playing a top-10 player is that unless you play at your best, they have the capacity to humiliate you on court," Sania told reporters.

The Russian beat the 19-year old Indian 5-7 6-4 6-4 the last and only time they met at Indian Wells earlier this year.

The Hyderabadi lass is keen to set that 0-1 head-to-head record straight against Dementieva.

"She is one of the hardest strikers of the ball that I have ever played against. I played a very tight three-setter againt her last time and I hope to give a good account myself this time," Sania said.

The teenager caused ripples on her maiden appearance at Wimbledon last year when she gave Svetlana Kuznetsova a run for her money before going down in the second round.

"I hope to make it as memorable as my last year," she said.

The preparations have not gone exactly according to plans, though. Although she reached the third round at the DFS Classic - her best performance of the season - a fortnight back, a lack of communication saw her land in Don Bosch, Holland, last week instead of slugging it out against the cream of women's tennis at Eastbourne in London.

Sania travelled to the Netherlands with the intention of gaining some match practice playing alongside local lass Michaela Krajicek with whom she will be pairing in doubles at Wimbledon.

A less weighty draw there also meant that she had a better chance of playing more singles matches.

Unfortunately for her, Krajicek was not aware of her plans and had committed to another player. And Sania's singles programme also took a knock as she went out in the first round.

The Indian ace, however, said she was confident of her form.

"The tune-up matches have not gone as well as I would have liked but I am feeling the ball good and with a little bit of luck, I look forward to some exciting matches in singles and doubles," Sania said.

She has been sparring with a lot of different players including Krajicek, Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Elena Kostanic.

Sania said her game has come up a long way this year and Asif Ismail as coach-cum-hitting partner also has had a positive impact.

"I definitely feel I have improved over the last six months and matured, too.

"But in professional tennis, one has to go on working hard, keep on doing the right things and wait for the right breaks, which will eventually come if you are good enough.

"My coach Asif Ismail is someone I enjoy working with and he is adding new dimensions to the way I play."

Source: http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=305260&ssid=92&sid=SPO

Why one billion people can't be wrong about Mirza

YOU don't want to mess with Sania Mirza. 'You can either agree with me or be wrong' read the slogan on one of her figure-hugging tee-shirts. 'Well-behaved women rarely make history' read another, worn at Wimbledon last year, while 'I'm cute? No shit' was emblazoned across her frontage at the US Open in September. Ms Mirza has attitude, in case you had not guessed.

When players talk about pressure, they sigh and try to explain what it is like to have a crowd of tennis fans taking an unnatural interest in their every move. Mirza, though, comes from India and not only faces the regular trials and tribulations of a professional athlete and celebrity, she also has one billion people at home following, and discussing, her progress. She admires the likes of Tim Henman and Andy Murray for the way they cope with the media circus that follows them at Wimbledon, but she knows that the pressure she faces is on another level again. "The only difference is that I have a billion people following them and they don't!" she laughed. "I am from India and I have to face it. These are the pressures I'm going to have for the rest of my life and there's nothing I can do about it.

"This is what my country is like and people in India get very emotional about their heroes."

Coming from a nation, and, indeed, a family, of cricket lovers, Mirza broke the mould from the moment she picked up a tennis racket at the age of six. Her talent was obvious from the start but with little by way of training facilities in her home town of Hyderabad, and with only her father to teach her, she constructed a style for herself that is based more on determination than traditional technique. As in everything else in her young life - she is just 19 - she has taken on tennis and done it her way. Her competitive fire has already brought her one tournament title - her home town event last year - and a current ranking of 38 in the world. Like most teenagers, she is not yet ready to become a leader for her generation but, still, she is regarded as either an icon or "a corrupting influence" in her home country. She is a practising Muslim but some more right-wing clerics in India have already attacked her for appearing in public in her tennis kit, clothing they deem to be highly unsuitable for a young woman. One group of fundamentalists even went as far as to issue a fatwa against her, threatening to stop her from playing unless she followed the Islamic dress code.

Fortunately for Mirza, India is a very large country and a large proportion of the 100 million Muslims living there are just pleased to see her succeed. Admittedly, these days she has bodyguards to protect her when she goes home, but they are there to fend off as many autograph hunters and journalists as religious zealots.

It is a lot for anyone to take on board, much less a teenager, but Mirza is a tough cookie. Sharp as a tack, willing and able to defend herself but also ready to laugh at the absurdities of her life, she does her best to put everything into perspective.

When her doubles partner, Liezel Huber, complained that the Bangalore crowd was too noisy as the duo were on the way to claiming the title this year, Mirza reminded her "you know what, you'd rather have them with you than against you".

"So you just have to take everything optimistically," Mirza said. She takes the same attitude to her career. She announced herself as a contender last year by winning in Hyderabad but this year the opposition has sized her up, worked out her weaknesses - her serve - and kept her quiet. Her best result came in Birmingham last week where she reached the third round. Enlisting the help of Tony Roche, Roger Federer's mentor, to sort out that serve, she is keeping her expectations to a minimum while she reconstructs her game and plans her move towards the elite level.

"There are so many people in India who believe I can be No.1 in the world by the end of the year," she said, "and if I start saying that I am going to top ten, then that will just put extra pressure on me. That's why I want to set myself realistic goals. If I stay in the top 50 this year, then that will be achieving my goal, but if stay in the top 25 then that will also be achieving my goal. But I think my main goal is never to be satisfied."

In theory, her plans for Wimbledon this year should also be low-key. But Mirza is both a fighter and a realist and at 19, she has plenty of time to develop her career. And with so many people following her, she will never be short on support. "Wherever I'm playing, whether it's at home or at Wimbledon, the amount of Indians that live in Wimbledon, it almost feels like home," she said. One billion people can't be wrong.

Source: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/othersport.cfm?id=928082006

Tough first round for Sania Mirza at Wimbledon

Sania Mirza was on Friday handed a tough first round outing after being drawn to play seventh seed Elena Dementieva of Russia in the women's singles at the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning on Monday.

The 19-year old Indian, ranked 38th in the world, is in the top half of the draw and in the second quarter which also features 2004 champion Maria Sharapova.

French Open champion Amelie Mauresmo of France is the top seed followed by Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, defending champion Venus Williams, Dementieva and Switzerland's Patty Schnyder in that order for the top eight seedings.

Sania is paired with Holland's Michaela Krajicek in the women's doubles and the duo take on Stephanie Foretz of France and Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti in the first round.

In the men's doubles, Leander Paes and Czech Republic's Martin Damm have been seventh seeded. The pair clash with Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the opening round.

Mahesh Bhupathi has partnered with Alexander Waske of Germany to be 13th seeded and play Frederic Neimeyer of Canada and American Glenn Weiner in their opening match. (PTI)

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/sports/showsports.asp?sportname=Tennis&slug=Tough+first+round+for+Sania&id=28868

Sania Mirza crashes out of Ordina Open

NEW DELHI: Sania Mirza's preparations for the Wimbledon received a setback when she lost 6-7 (7-9), 6-2, 4-6 to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic in the first round of the $175,000 Ordina Open at Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, on Sunday.

The 19-year old Hyderabadi, who jumped three places to 38 in world rankings after reaching the third round of DFS Classic in Birmingham last week, was at the receiving end of some dubious overrules by the chair umpire.

Sania, leading 4-2 in the first set tie-break, served an ace, which was belatedly turned into "fault" by the chair and the point awarded to Benesova.

The chair umpire made another overrule against Sania when she hit a clear winner on the far side of the court on set point in the same tie-break.

The Indian bounced back to wrap up the second set before conceding the next set and match.

Meanwhile, Sania will be partnering Holland's Michaella Krajicek in the women's doubles of the Wimbledon Grand Slam beginning next week.

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1036473

Sania moves up to 38th in world rankings

New Delhi, June 19. (PTI): The advent of the grass court season has witnessed Sania Mirza's resurgence with the Indian teenager jumping three places to 38th in the latest WTA rankings today.

The 19-year-old, who had been afflicted by injuries and slipped to 41 after her low key performances on clay courts, registered her first third-round appearance of the year at the USD 200,000 DFS Classic in Birmingham last week.

US-based Shikha Uberoi maintained her 165th position while Delhi-based Ankita Bhambri slid 14 places to 363rd and her younger sister Sanaa came down crashing 48 places to 570th. Seasoned Rushmi Chakravarthi dropped 11 spots to 453rd.

There was some good news in the men's section with Rohan Bopanna gaining 15 spots to be placed 252nd to be the highest ranked Indian on the ATP Tour.

Bopanna came through three rounds of qualifying to earn a first round main draw date with world number one Roger Federer at Halle, Germany, last week.

Sania crashes out of DFS Classic doubles

Birmingham, June 16: There seems no end to Sania Mirza's woes and after her shocking second round defeat at the hand of an American qualifier in the singles, the Indian, partnering Italian Francesca Schiavone, crashed out of the doubles event as well in the first round of the 200,000 dollar DFS Classic here.

Seeded third, the Indo-Italian duo blew off the advantage after winning the first set and went down 6-4, 2-6, 2-6 to Elena Vesnina of Russia and her Chinese Comprade-in-arms Zi Yan in one hour 44 minutes.

The third seeds lost the plot after winning the first set and nothing went right thereafter.

Vesnina and Yan staged a brilliant comeback in the second set, breaking their fancied rivals twice and averting any such setback to take the set.

In the decider, it was the same story with the third seeds throwing away three break points as their big serving rivals showed them the door.

Sania had earlier made an exit from the singles event with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-7(3) defeat inflicted by American qualifier Meilen Tu in the third round.

Source: http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=302755&sid=SPO&ssid=92

Sania fails to seize advantage; crashes out

BIRMINGHAM • Just when it seemed that Sania Mirza was back to the form which made her such a hit at last year’s Wimbledon, she blew a great chance to reach her first quarter-final since October here yesterday.

The 19-year-old from Hyderabad led by a set and 3-1, and by 5-3 in the final set before somehow contriving to lose 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to Meilen Tu, a qualifier from the United States, in the third round of the DFS Classic.

The Indian starlet was too upset to talk to the press after her defeat, although she did release a statement in which she claimed cramps had contributed to her defeat.

“I’m really disappointed to lose today,” she said. “I thought I had the match in my hands as I started off so well but I wasn’t feeling well in the second set. I had cramps and it went wrong from there.

“All credit to Meilen, she really hung in there and deserved to win today.”

It was a significant disappointment for the first Indian woman to break the world’s top 50, because Mirza’s fitness problems had seemed behind her, and her section of the draw, without the injured third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, had been opening up invitingly.

Mirza also appeared to have created a pattern by which she could dominate an opponent who rallied determinedly from the baseline but whose ranking has slipped outside the top 100 after a sequence of injury problems.

When Mirza backed up her flat attacks with a tight focus, she got on top, and she also appeared to have Tu rattled early in the second set, when the American glared understandably at the noisy hospitality tents.

With spectators sitting with their backs to the court and cheering loudly for England in the World Cup soccer which was being broadcast not far away, the number one court increasingly became a pit of distractions.

But it was Mirza, the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour event, whose concentration appeared to waver most when it mattered.

After Tu had served two double faults to drop serve, and then double faulted again to go love-30 in the fifth game of the second set, it seemed that one more break of serve then would finish the match as a contest.

But Mirza could not come up with the right shot on the points which mattered, and as the match went on, her serve began to lose its pep.

Twice she served for the match in the final set, and twice her deliveries lacked conviction. Meanwhile the off-court shouts became more frequent.

By the time it came to the tie-break the momentum was with the determined Tu, who next faces France’s Marion Bartoli, who overcame Ayumi Morita, a surprising 16-year-old from Japan, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Bartoli said: “I was 0-2 down in both the first two sets, but unfortunately, having pulled it back a second time I lost the second set.

“I finally found some weaknesses in her game. Maybe I have a little bit more experience. When the ball came fast (on grass) she didn’t have time to react, so I put in as many first serves as possible, especially to the forehand and I got some free points.

Bartoli also came a lot more to the net, where, as an experienced doubles player, she was more than comfortable. But despite her moments of naivety Morita looks to have a good future.

Only 16, she gained entry through a feed-up system from two special challenger events, one of them Fukuoka, and in the first WTA Tour event of her career won two matches, one against Sofia Arvidsson, the ninth seeded Hungarian.

Morita also showed herself encouragingly adaptable on the unfamiliar grass surface, although with a ranking down at 264 it may be a little while before another chance on the main tour comes along.

Source: http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Sports_News&subsection=Tennis&month=June2006&file=Sports_News2006061681550.xml

Sania Mirza feels the heat in England

Birmingham, England - Sania Mirza admitted she was feeling the heat after reaching the third round of a WTA Tour event for the first time in eight months.

The Indian star has made a confident start to the grass-court season at the DFS Classic here and was due to face American qualifier Meilen Tu here on Thursday with a quarterfinal place at stake.

That objective should be well within her grasp after she overcame fitness worries, rain-sodden conditions and American Shenay Perry in her second round clash on Wednesday.

Mirza, who has been struggling with back problems this year, was in decent enough shape against the world number 72 to underline her considerable potential on grass with a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 victory.

The Indian put on a display of uninhibited flat hitting, which causes the ball to stay down lower on this surface, making it a potent threat, and she was unafraid to take risks on the big points.

Mirza carries a huge weight of expectation on her shoulders after becoming the first Indian to win a WTA tournament, in her home city of Hyderabad last year.

"After last year there has been a lot of pressure on me," she said. "And of course people expect me to do a lot better than I did last year.

"I am going to take it one at a time and not worry about Wimbledon, or even next week. I only want to worry about tomorrow.

"But pressure is growing by the day. People expect me to do better and it's part and parcel of my life and I have to learn how to block everything out."

In conditions which made serve more important, Mirza secured the only break of the first set at the psychologically crucial moment in the eleventh game, and when she broke to lead 2-1 and 3-1 in the second set, seemed well on her way.

But as in her first round win over Alona Bondarenko, she seemed to allow her mind to waver a little, while Perry developed more rhythm with an intelligent game in which she mixed sliced drives skillfully in with her routine topspin, and sometimes made ambushing net attacks.

Even then Perry seemed to be heading for defeat for she followed her break to 3-3 by double-faulting to go 3-4 and hurled down her racket and broke it.

She escaped a code violation warning for that, and also escaped with the set on a tiebreak after Mirza over-hit a backhand to miss her point for 5-3.

But Mirza played more steadily throughout the third set, breaking to lead 4-2 and then holding her advantage until the end.

"The court was a bit different from that in my opening round," she said. "The rain made the conditions heavier and harder to keep your focus.

"I tried to finish it too early in the second set - I was a little bit impatient. But I knew I had to hang on to my service games because she served so well, and after this I did that."

Source: http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=qw1150335904828S163

Pressure increasing for India's Mirza

Birmingham - Sania Mirza has admitted the pressure on her is "growing by the day" as she adapts to life as India's first female sports star.

Ever since she won the junior girls title at Wimbledon in 2003, an achievement which saw her favourite cricketer and India icon Sachin Tendulkar gift her a sportscar, Mirza's career has been on an upward path.

In 2005 she became the first Indian woman to break into the world's Top 50, the first to win a tournament and to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam event.

All these feats led to the now 19-year-old Mirza being named Newcomer of the Year on the women's tour.

As her tennis profile rose the Muslim teenager also found herself having to cope with attacks from some clergy unhappy with the outfits, unexceptional compared to those say of Serena Williams, she was wearing on court.

And Mirza, who won her first-round match at the DFS Classic WTA grass-court event on Tuesday, with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko, admitted life in the spotlight was far fron an easy ride.

"After what happened last year there's a lot of pressure on me, with people expecting me to do a lot better than I did," she said.

"The pressure is growing by the day. Every match, whether I win or lose, people expect me to do better than I ever can.

"That's something that as an athlete you go through day in and day out, although my upbringing is such I feel I can ignore it.

"It's something you need to learn to block out. It's hard to do all the time because there are occasions when you feel pressure. That's when family helps."

Cricket may still be India's premier sporting passion but interest in Mirza's career is increasing all the time amongst her compatriots.

But she accepted this was now a part of her life. "You cannot live in the 21st century and not read a newspaper or the Internet.

"No matter if you say you are going to block something out, you see and hear things. Every time I go back home I learn a new thing about myself that I never knew about.

"That's something you learn to deal with, and I know it's going to grow more and more each day.

"I truly believe in the past 18 months I've grown up by more than five years.

"I've seen a lot more than any normal 19-year-old may have seen, but then you have to make some sacrifices to get to the top."

Victory over Bondarenko helped Mirza relive the greatest day of her career thus far.

She beat the 21-year-old in her home city tournament in Hyderabad last year to become the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour title.

This time Mirza again won in three sets, though there were moments, particularly when she slipped to a 1-3 deficit in the final set, when it seemed she was going to fall short.

But she regained focus and counter-attacked boldly for a satisfactory start to her grass-court buildup to Wimbledon.

"I lost a bit of concentration and she came up with some good shots," admitted Mirza, the 14th seed. "I am happy just to have won it.

"I have been practising on the grass for the last three days, so I am getting used to it."

Mirza, who was beaten in last year's Edgbaston event by eventual finalist Jelena Jankovic, said she was pleased to be back. "Grass really suits my game. It helps as I like to take risks to win matches."

Mirza faces American Shenay Perry, the world No 92, for a shot at a quarterfinal place in a section without third seed Daniela Hantuchova, who withdrew with a wrist injury on Monday.

"The next round will be difficult though," said Mirza of her encounter with Perry. "We haven't played before, but she plays a big game so I know it will be a tough match." - Sapa-AFP
Sania mirza
Source: http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=30&art_id=qw1150261381900S163

Sania Mirza Made to Work for Victory

Indian star Sania Mirza was pushed all the way in her first-round clash at the dfs Classic in Edgbaston.

The 14th seed and world number 41, who captured the Newcomer of the Year award for 2005 following a stunning season on the circuit, was pushed to the limit by Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine.

After comfortably taking the opening set 6-2, breaking Bondarenko in the first and seventh games, Mirza then lost the rhythm and range she had found in the first.

After missing a break point in the opening match of the second set, the 19-year-old from Hyderabad was broken in the fourth game to give Bondarenko a 3-1 lead.

Although immediately breaking back, Mirza was then broken to love in the subsequent game, allowing Bondarenko to go on and take the set 6-3.

The first three games then went against serve at the start of the final set before Bondarenko seemed to take control by finally holding and taking a 3-1 lead.

But Mirza then rattled off the next five games, closing out to love in the final game for 6-3 after one hour and 44 minutes on centre court.

In other early matches on the second day of the tournament, American Bethanie Mattek was also forced into a three-set battle, eventually beating Julia Schruff of Germany 6-4 6-7 6-1.

China's Shuai Peng was forced to come from a set down against Nicole Pratt of Australia before prevailing 2-6 7-5 6-4.

Another Chinese girl, Meng Yuan, was unable to follow her compatriot into the last 32, losing 6-3 6-4 to Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia.

(reopens) Two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova suffered a frustrating day in her bid for a third crown.

Sharapova was due to play the opening second-round match with American qualifier Ahsha Rolle, only for rain to postpone the encounter until tomorrow.

Even though there had been no play possible since 1.40pm, the LTA were hoping the weather would relent in an effort to complete the remaining first round matches.

Source: http://www.sportinglife.com/tennis/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=tennis/06/06/13/TENNIS_Edgbaston.html

Sania on course to face Hantuchova

London, June 13: Seeded 14th, Sania Mirza will be hoping to regain her form when she kicks off her singles campaign in the 200,000 dollar DFS Classic at Edgebaston with a first round tie against Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

World number 41 Sania makes an appeareance at the WTA Tier III event here following her first round exit from the French Open.

There is a possible third round face-off between Sania and third seed Daniela Hantuchova provided there is no upsets in the way.

Sania, meanwhile, teams up with Italian Francesca Schiavone and the third seeded pair faces Russian Elena Vesnina and Zi Yan of China in the first round.

The organisers are elated with Sania joining the fray and tournament director Marjory Howie said, ''Sania was a tremendously popular player in 2005 and we are delighted to welcome her back again this year where I have no doubt that she will be received with similar enthusiasm.''

Last year, Sania was beaten by eventual finalist Jelena Jankovic who, however, lost to Maria Sharapova in the final. Sharapova has been seeded top in the event.

Source: http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=301989&sid=SPO&ssid=92

Sania Mirza hoping to find her feet on grass

Birmingham: Indian teenager Sania Mirza is hoping for an upturn to a frustrating season when she starts her Wimbledon build-up at Edgbaston this week. Mirza, the winner of the Wimbledon girl's doubles title three years ago, was knocked out of the French Open in the first round last month and is happy to have her feet back on grass.

The 19-year-old knows the softer, faster surface not only suits her aggressive game but may be easier on her body as she tries to recover from a series of injuries, particularly to her back.

“I had to rest before the French Open and had a month off, which is not a perfect preparation,” said Mirza, whose ranking of 40 does not flatter her considerable ability.

“But I have always liked playing on grass, even if it means quite a lot of adjusting. Wimbledon has been very special to me and playing on centre court last year was one of the most memorable days of my life. Getting down lower and hitting through the ball is part of it, but also anticipating the bad bounces and not being put off by them.

“Moving your feet faster and preparation becomes much more important. But grass suits my game. I hit pretty hard and hopefully I will do well.”

Mirza said: “That (expectation) is just something a sportsperson has to live with. I won’t play at that level all the time but I just have to work hard and improve. People who know tennis know you can't do it all the time. I have to deal with it by remaining focused, by blocking the expectations out. I'm getting better at it.”

Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=6&articleid=61220060521015612200605138156

Sania Mirza's French Open challenge came to an end

Sania Mirza's French Open challenge came to an end on Tuesday with a straight-set loss in the women's doubles at the Roland Garros.

Sania, partnering Janette Husarova of Slovakia, went out to Eleni Daniilidou of Greece and Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-0 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

The 19-year old Indian had earlier lost in the first round of the women's singles and mixed doubles.

Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Indian fans in the junior section as well with Sanam Singh and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan losing their boys' doubles first round match.

Sanam and Jeevan, seeded seventh, went down guns blazing 7-6 (2) 6-4 against Croatian pair Nikola Mektic and Vedran Siljegovic.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1714585,00070002.htm