Sania Mirza : Being a female celebrity, an athlete in this part of the world is difficult
Sania Mirza has opened up on the difficulties she faces being a female celebrity in this nation where âcertain questionsâ are always asked of a woman. The World no.1 in doubles has also downplayed her split with her former partner Martina Hingis, labeling it as anâ extremely professional decisionâ.
âI have always said this, being a female celebrity, an athlete in this part of the world is difficult. Itâs not just difficult being a tennis player, (but) becoming an athlete. Itâs also dealing with the other things around you. Being a woman athlete is probably the toughest thing you can do. The margin of error is very, very small.
The problem is that there are certain questions asked to women without thinking that there is anything wrong with them.
Sania Mirza
âThe problem is that there are certain questions asked
Earlier this year, Sania parted ways with her long-term partner Martina Hingis after a string of poor results. The duo, named âSanTinaâ by the fans, dominated the womenâs doubles circuit for over a year, winning three Grand Slams in the process along with a memorable unbeaten run of 41 matches. However, Mirza felt that the decision was a professional one, and has downplayed its importance, insisting that âitâs not that big a deal as people made it out to beâ.
âIt was an extremely professional decision. (Doubles) partnerships are like relationships. They work, and then they donât work. And then you move on. Itâs always tricky when you split with someone you have had so much success with.
"But, itâs really not that big a deal as people made it out to be. Itâs not that tragic. This is a professional tour. Everybody wants to win. Itâs sad to finish a partnership of any kind in anything in life. But you have to accept it. Sheâs happy in the space with whom sheâs playing with now. And obviously I am, which is why I have had success already,â she explained.
The 30-year-old was full of praise for her new doubles partner Barbora Strycova of Czech Republic. She said, âWe had a great start and she is a great fighter, which is her biggest quality as a tennis player. The best thing about our partnership is that we are completely honest with each other. Do I feel that she is going to focus on one (singles) more than the other (doubles)? Of course not. Whenever we step on the court, it is going be 100 percent or we do not get on the court.â