From Sania Mirza's 2014 Success to the Big Controversies; Indian Tennis Still has a Lot to Serve

Let's admit it. Personal problems take up a lot of media space in almost every important sportsperson's life. However, Indian tennis players in recent years have occupied the lion's share of such controversies.

Whether it be Sania Mirza's patriotism becoming the subject of public scrutiny, Leander Paes' continuous tussle with former live-in partner Rhea Pillai or even Mahesh Bhupathi's differences with the All India Tennis Association, most Indians would have somewhere questioned why this happens so much only in tennis.

There are good things, of course, in Sania Mirza winning the WTA finals along with Zimbabwe's Cara Black in the doubles section, a feat that only Vijay Amritraj had managed as an Indian when he won the ATP finals partnering American Dick Stockton back in 1977.

There is good also in India finally being able to get the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams play here as part of Mahesh's International Premier Tennis League or Amritraj's Champions Tennis League promoting India's own stars in a grand manner.

But 2014 has once again posed a big and rather embarrassing question. First Sania, along with other top men's players in the country, came under heavy criticism for skipping the Asian Games in Incheon to focus more on their professional career. Although Sania later reversed her decision to be a part of an Indian contingent that won five out a possible seven medals at South Korea, there was a lot of bitterness exchanged between India's Olympic Committee, the players and the national tennis federation.

And there was this big deal about Sania not being loyal to her country since she is married to a Pakistani cricketer called Shoaib Malik. BJP MLA K. Laxman had questioned Sania's appointment as the brand ambassador for new state Telangana in the month of July, dismissing the tennis player as the "daughter-in-law of Pakistan".

It resulted in Sania breaking down in a television interview to NDTV's Barkha Dutt, as Sania wailed it was unfair that she had to "assert her Indian-ness." She went off saying, "Maybe I am way too stubborn."

Last year, India's Davis Cup stars had refused to take part in a crucial tie against South Korea over a pay dispute with the AITA. It even resulted in top players from the world take notice of what was going on in our country.

On the eve of the women's doubles final of the WTA year-end meet in Singapore in October, Sania was worried. It was apparent from her Instagram feed, which had a quote saying, "What if I fall? Oh, my darling, what if you fly?" Sania and Black had barely made it to the final after having to save three match points in the previous match and being stressed to match tiebreaks in both the quarters and semis.

In the final, however, Sania and Black showed how devastating they could be as a tennis pair. They thumped the Taipei-Chinese pairing of Su-Wei Hsieh and Shuai Peng 6-1, 6-0, ending a wonderful year together in a truly grand fashion.

"It was also a tremendous honour to have been presented the trophy by Martina Navratilova while being watched by the other all-time greats, like Billie Jean King and Chris Evert, and it is something that I can never forget," said an elated Sania after the win.

In 2014, Sania broke into the top 5 in doubles for the first time in her career and then in September, she won the US Open mixed doubles title with Brazil's Bruno Soares. What followed was a mixed doubles gold in the Asian Games along with compatriot Saketh Myneni.

But winning the WTA finals was extra special for Sania. "This was my first-ever entry into the year-end championships, which is considered by many to be 'the mother of all Grand Slams', so winning that trophy was definitely one of the proudest moments of my career."

It was a relatively bad year though for Leander Paes, one half of India's once most successful doubles pairing with Bhupathi, as he could not even qualify for the year-end ATP World Tour Finals. It was something rare for Paes in all these years.

"That must have been a really long time ago," Paes told the Times of India after realizing him and Radek Stepanek were not among the top eight doubles teams at London.

Paes also last finished the year outside the top 25 doubles players in the world for the first time in over 15 years. One title, no Grand Slam final, no Masters series final -- 2014 has truly been a forgettable year in Paes' long 24-year pro career.

At 41, however, Paes still wants to keep going despite the odds.

"This was a difficult year, but tennis still remains a priority... I'm an eternal optimist. I feel very motivated as I look ahead... Taking care of my daughter, my tennis, my business, creating a good environment for my family, finishing the dirty chapter of my life and getting everything sorted out. I will be strong."

Paes also holds the rare feat to have played doubles with 98 different male partners.

"Many players have expressed interest in being my 100th partner. I've spoken to Novak Djokovic also, he's very keen. Let's see who ultimately becomes my 100th partner," Paes told TOI.

And then, when you talk of quiet retirements, you think of Mahesh Bhupathi. Not many even realized that Wimbledon 2014 was to be the great's last Grand Slam appearance. Bhupathi bowed out without making a noise.

Having made waves in 2014 by promoting a totally new concept in tennis through the International Premier Tennis League, where top players from the world will compete in an exciting format across four destinations in Asia, Bhupathi is not neglecting his own country. When it comes to India, Bhupathi is still open to the idea of returning to court.

"I'd love to represent India if I am called upon to do so. There is nothing that compares to playing for the country and while Wimbledon will be my last Grand Slam, I will still be available for the Davis Cup and the Asian Games," Bhupathi said in an interview.

There have been few players like Sania, Paes and Bhupathi in India and each one of them have brought the country joy. But after another topsy-turvy ride in a year 2014 that was marred by its share of controversies and drama, let's hope Indian tennis only goes forward from here and becomes more mature. The new players have to step up too!