Profile: Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza's Profile:

Sport: Tennis
Right-handed

Age: 25

About Sania Mirza:

Undoubtedly one of India's spectacular stars in Tennis, Sania Mirza's rise has been meteoric and therefore, praiseworthy. Sania was the first Indian to crack into the top-30 WTA rankings in singles category and the top-10 in doubles. Her powerful forehand ground strokes have helped her ease past several talented players over the years.

Although Sania has won just one WTA title so far, of course an achievement nonetheless, there have been certain phases of injuries too that have bogged her down. These however, have been temporary as she has risen again and again and has claimed two Grand Slam titles through sheer will and hard-work.

Names as one of 50 heroes of Asia by Time in 2005,  she has several medals to her name in the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games as well.

Memorable matches in her initial years of being on the international court included beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets (Dubai Tennis Championships) and overcoming Marion Bartoli (US Open). While 2005 and 2006 were relatively good years for Sania with three medals in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, it was in 2007 that she broke into the top-30. She also took four doubles titles in the same year.

Since then, Sania has been oscillating between phases of excellent tennis and the rather un-impressive form. Backed by top-honours like Arjuna Award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2006, Sania has continued to have an entire country's eyes on her each time she has and continues to take to the court.

Controversies however have not spared her either. Ranging from her short dress on the court angering muslim clerics to her comments on safe sex which had some feel she was being un-Islamic, Sania has had her fair share of spotlight in the media.

During the 2008 Hopman Cup, she was photographed resting her feet next to the Indian flag. She even faced prosecution for it but she clarified that her love for the country was second to none.

More recently, the entire controversy regarding pairings for the Olympics had Sania right in the middle of the storm. She later clarified that while she had every right  to have preferences, she was also ready to play with anyone in the London Games for the sake of the country. That All India Tennis Association named her mother as the manager of the Indian women's team to London was seen by many as a move to pacify a fuming Sania.

Come London Olympics though and Sania would be in a position of strength due to her vast experience against tough opponents, in the international arena. She will play the mixed doubles event with Leander Paes and the women's doubles event with Rushmi Chakravarthy.

Other facts about Sania Mirza:

Was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) and resides in Hyderabad.

Turned pro on February 3, 2003

She got engaged to childhood friend Sohrab Mirza in 2009 but it was called off shortly after.

She then married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in April 2010. There was a huge buzz during and after the wedding which made her the most searched woman tennis player in 2010.

Has received an honourary degree of Doctor of Letters from the MGR Educational and Research Institute in Chennai, in 2008.

Her father - Imran Mirza - is a sports journalist and she has a younger sister- Anam. She began playing at the age of 6 and was trained by her father.