Sania Mirza, Leander Paes Give India Doubles Glory, But Where Are Singles Stars?

The year 2015 will be marked as a breakthrough year for Indian tennis - particularly for Sania Mirza. (Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis Named International Tennis Federation World Champions)

Along with Martina Hingis, Sania Mirza won as many as 10 titles in 2015, as the duo exerted their authority in the women's doubles game. The pair's success also saw Sania ascend to the world No.1 in women's doubles, becoming the first Indian female to achieve the numero uno spot in tennis rankings. (Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis Secure Year-End No.1 Ranking)

So "lucky" has the Swiss Miss been for Indian tennis that Sania even coined the hashtag (#Santina), a reflection of their remarkable partnership. (Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis Make Stunning Comeback to Win Wimbledon Doubles Title)

Sania herself admitted that it will be tough to replicate 2015's achievements.

"Next year, if not better it, hopefully, we can equal what we have done. It's tough to have a better year than this," said Saina, who was awarded the Khel Ratna in August.

Leander Paes along with Martina Hingis, bagged the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open to become the first pair to win three Grand Slams in a calendar year.

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Paes' Achievement Proves Age is Just a Number

At 42, Leander Paes is proving to the world that age is just a number. Paes, who has now 17 Grand Slam trophies to his name, along with Hingis, bagged the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open to become the first pair to win three Grand Slams in a calendar year. (Leander Paes, Martina Hingis Win US Open Mixed Doubles Title of 2015)

Both Leander and Sania continue to be India's torchbearer in tennis. Paes with nine mixed doubles titles is now only one Slam behind the legendary Martina Navratilova, who has 10. (Leander Paes Wins 16th Grand Slam Title, Partners Martina Hingis to Wimbledon Crown)

Besides the achievements of Leander and Sania, there was another reason to cheer for India in the form of Sumit Nagal who won the junior Wimbledon doubles crown to make it a momentous year of Indian tennis.

Rohan Bopanna gave more reasons to rejoice as he formed a great partnership with Florian Mergea. The duo won two doubles titles and also reached the final of the World Tour Finals.

Yuki Bhambri is currently the highest ranked India in the ATP Charts at 93.

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Singles Remain a Worrying Factor

Amidst all the highs of the doubles and mixed doubles glory, an underlying problem of Indian tennis was swept under the carpet - the singles format. (Yuki Bhambri, Somdev Devvarman Slip Couple of Places in Latest ATP Rankings)

Save Yuki Bhambri, who rose from 411 in the world in February, to be ranked 89 in November and to finally finish the year on 93, no other singles player really stood out and made a mark.

Once dubbed as the next big thing in Indian tennis, Somdev Devvarman fell to a dismal at 180 in ATP rankings. Out of the 19 challenger tournaments that Somdev played, he made first round exits in 10 of those.

Saketh Myneni is next best ranked India player in men's ranking and is on 171. (Somdev Devvarman Hires New Coach to Get Back on Track)

India's best women's player is Ankita Raina who is ranked 264, followed by Prerna Bhambri, who is on 416.

India Need to Cash-in on International Premier Tennis League Phenomenon

The International Premier Tennis League has been a great concept for Indian tennis. It brought the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to India and saw unprecedented crowd on a tennis court. (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal Ready to Enthrall Delhi Fans in International Premier Tennis League Clash)

Indian tennis federation needs to cash-in on the IPTL and develop more singles players. It's a great concept provided, the organisers give opportunity to budding youngsters to face the likes of tennis greats - just like what happens in the Indian Premier League.

Otherwise, it's just an opportunity for the organisers to mint more money.