“It is tough to be hunted but always a privilege to be the hunter”: Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza and her partner Martina Hingis have been on a dream run since joining forces last year. They are off to a flying start in 2016, winning three WTA tournaments in a row, including the Australian Open in Melbourne last week - well on course to improve on their stunning achievements last year. However, the road to the top has not always been as easy as they have made it look on screen.
“It is tough to be hunted but always a privilege to be the hunter."
“It is mentally and physically draining to be consistent at the highest level,” Mirza said in an exclusive interview with The Hindu.
Mirza also stressed on the importance of the understanding she shares with Swiss star Martina Hingis. She said, “I kept telling people that 2015 was a dream year and how difficult it would be to maintain that level. But, the year 2016 was off to a dream start and I could not have asked for a better one winning the first Grand Slam of the year.
“The reason, I repeat, is that we understand each other pretty well and there are lots of small issues which we share, which eventually pave the way for success. It is not just about on-court chemistry but also off the court… we are very good friends and that helped us gel into a winning combination”.
Mirza added that unlike a lot of other pairs, who rely on one individual to raise their game when they struggle on the court, 'SanTina' do it together.
“But, in our case, we invariably raised the bar together. This is something really special in our partnership.
“There is no doubt she is a great player and remember, she was making a comeback to the big league. And, it worked both ways when we decided to play together. I wish I played with her much before in the circuit given the stupendous success we have had in the recent past,” she told the Hindu.
Mirza and Hingis won nine WTA tournaments last year, including two Grand Slams - Wimbledon and the US open. They have racked up three more this year, and have extended their winning run to 36 matches – the third longest streak after Martina Navratilova/ Pam Shriver's 109 and Gigi Fernandez/ Natasha Zvereva's 44.
The 29-year-old explained that the unbeaten run has added more pressure on them, however, there is also a sense of pride attached to it.
“Yes, it is never easy. A time comes when you have to lose but I hope it will not come soon.
“Every time, people joke, saying, ‘how many more you are going to win?’ This is the kind of reputation we have built up during our partnership. So, to be honest, the pressure is on us.
“It is very difficult for any athlete to say that they have not lost 36 matches in a stretch at the highest level and I am definitely proud of this feat,” she added.
Mirza paired up with Ivan Dodig in the mixed doubles, at the Australian Open, and they were the No.1 seeded team in the draw. The pair was knocked out in the semi-final of the tournament, but the Hyderabad-born star claimed that she will continue to partner him.
“I played with Ivan Dodig in the Australian Open and will continue with him in mixed,” she said.
Mirza is yet to confirm her partner for the Rio Olympics, with both Rohan Bopanna and Leander Paes in contention. She insisted that she will wait till the last moment, before committing herself.
“You know it is never going to be easy at that level. But given the field which has all the Rogers, Djokovics, it will never be easy.
“All I can say is that I will wait till the cut-off date and not commit myself. The important thing is that I have qualified for the Olympics by virtue of being World No. 1 and still not sure whether Rohan (Bopanna) or Leander (Paes) will make the cut,” she told The Hindu.
0
0
0
0
0
0
Comments
Sign up or log in to your account to leave comments and reactions
0 Comments