Mirza has task cut out in Qatar Open

India’s Sania Mirza (second from left) greets a young fan at the Khalifa International tennis complex yesterday. Picture by Jayan Orma
By N.D. Prashant
THE Sania Mirza fever is all set to grip Doha yet again. The Indian tennis sensation is back here to play the Sony Ericsson WTA Qatar Total Open tennis tournament and a packed stadium once again awaits her.
Mirza, who left her supporters spellbound with her fine show enroute to a mixed doubles gold and two silvers in the individual and team events at the Asian Games, is excited to be back in Qatar.

“It’s great to be back here especially after the Asian Games. I really miss that atmosphere. I was just talking to my trainer (Heath Matthews), and told him ‘It’s been just two months, but it feels like ages’. I read in the papers that the entry is free. I don’t know how good that idea is,” she said laughing.
“You can see it in the people’s eyes, they are so proud to have you around. The welcome has always been the same, be it in Asia, Dubai or Doha. In the Middle East, they of course take special pride, as I come from the same community. They feel someone is representing them,” said a beaming Mirza in an exclusive interview to Gulf Times after a rigorous training session at the Khalifa Tennis Complex, yesterday.
However, Mirza is well aware that she will have her task cut out this time round.
“At the Games, I started as firm favourite. But, Qatar Open is a much bigger platform. Here we have the likes of Martina Hingis, Patty, Henin… It’s going to be different,” the 20-year-old Hyderabadi said.
It’s been a while since Mirza won her first WTA tournament in her home town in 2005. However, she remains undeterred by that fact and feels it’s just a matter of time.
“No, it’s just not playing on my mind that I have won just one WTA tournament. People finish their careers playing tennis and sometimes end up not winning any title. All I can say is that I was fortunate to win the title early in my career. Even not many players in the top 10 or top 20 in the world win many WTA titles. We need to win five to six matches to clinch a tournament and that’s not easy. I have been working harder than ever before,” she asserted. “The Doha success last year has been a turning point. Things really have started clicking from here. I have played lot of matches in the past few months and I am pretty pleased with the results. So success will happen sooner or later.”
The world saw her heroics with Leander Paes at the Asian Games and very soon, we will see another dream pair of Mahesh Bhupathi-Sania Mirza leading India’s challenge at the Wimbledon and French Open. And Mirza is upbeat about the combination.
“Mixed doubles is a lighter side of tennis. Its fun and very interesting. It’s great to play against the best guys in the world. I think me and Mahesh will make a good pair.
“He has a good backhand return and I have a good forehand. Right now, we are both very excited to play together. Everyone has been wanting us to play together for sometime now. So it finally happened and hope it’s a long-term partnership. We will try and win some Grand Slams as well,” said Mirza, who made it to the semi-finals of the Pattaya Open early this year.
She is also jelling well with her Spanish doubles partner Anabel Medina Garrigues.
“Well the funny thing is that we paired just once at the Australian Open and did well.”