Sania

Personal

Sania Mirza (born November 15, 1986, Mumbai, India resides in Hyderabad, India) is a professional female tennis player from India. Coached by her father, Imran Mirza, Sania began playing tennis at age six. She turned professional in 2003. She became the first and only Indian woman to reach the 4th round of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2005 US Open. She is now the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India (She had a rank of 42, her highest ever, by end of August 2005). Her original goal was to enter the top 100 by the end of 2005, but she revised it to entering the top 50 after good performances at the beginning of the year. (She may have also been helped by the fact that she has very few points to defend for this year and thus, it has been an upward journey in rankings.) As of July 2005, she ranked 5th among Asian women. Her year-end rank in 2004 was 206.

“My mother took me to a coach, who initially refused to coach me because I was too small,” said Mirza. “After a month, he called my parents to say he’d never seen a player that good at such a young age.” [From WTATour interview] She is 5 ft. 7 in. tall.

She has earned a large fan following in India as she is one of the very few young women from the country to have done well at the highest levels of sport. In 2005, she was awarded the Arjuna award in tennis for the year 2004. She has defeated two top 10 players, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova. She is a devout Muslim, who began playing tennis at the age of six.

Sania won the Wimbledon Championships Girls’ Doubles title in 2003, teaming up with Alisa Kleybanova of Russia. She got a wild card entry to the 2005 Australian Open and created history by becoming the first Indian woman to enter the third round of a Grand Slam tournament. She lost in the 3rd round to eventual champion Serena Williams. On February 12, 2005, she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title defeating Alyona Bondarenko of Ukraine in the Hyderabad Open Finals.

In her Wimbledon Championships debut, Mirza won her first match at the 2005 event, defeating Akiko Morigami of Japan in three very tight sets, 6-3, 3-6, 8-6. However, she was narrowly defeated in the second round by Svetlana Kuznetsova (a player whom she had defeated earlier in the year for her first top ten victory) 4-6, 7-6, 4-6.

Watching her performance in Acura Classics, legendary Pancho Segura, Ecuador-born American player who roamed the courts in the 1940s and 50s, felt that Sania’s hard-hitting game resembles that of Romanian tennis legend Nastase. Segura said that Sania has a natural way of hitting the ball and she hits it hard. These qualities remind him of Ilie Nastase.

Career Highlights

- 2005 US Open: reaches 4th round by defeating Marion Bartoli of France in straight sets (7-6(4), 6-4); Voted Best Player of the day on the 3rd day for winning her 2nd round match despite bleeding toes.
- 2005 Forest Hills Women’s Tennis Classic, New York: reaches her second WTA final but fails to win
- 2005 Acura Classic: upsets Nadia Petrova in 2nd round but loses in the third round to Akiko Morigami of Japan (2-6,6-4,4-6). By beating the 8th-ranked Petrova, she breaks into top 50 in world rankings for the first time ever.

- 2005 Dubai Tennis Championships: 2nd Round: Upset reigning US Open Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals
- 2005 Hyderabad Open singles: Won the tournament defeating Alyona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in the final and became the first Indian woman to capture a WTA singles title.
- 2005 Australian Open singles: 3rd round: Became first Indian woman to reach the 3rd round of a Grand Slam tournament.
- 2004 Hyderabad Open doubles: Won the tournament (partnering with Liezel Huber) to become the youngest Indian to win a WTA or ATP tour title and the first Indian woman to capture a WTA tour title.
- 2003 Junior Wimbledon Championships doubles: Won the tournament (partnering with Alisa Kleybanova) to become the youngest Indian and the first Indian woman to win a junior Grand Slam title.

sania mirza signature collection

Sania launches signature collection

LOOKING to cash in on the huge fan following of Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza, Italian sportswear major Lotto has launched the star`s signature collection of sportswear in the domestic market and would be introducing it in the international markets by fall winter of 2006.

The company is also planning to open in-between 25 and 30 exclusive Lotto outlets in India next year as a part of expansion.

“The Sania Mirza signature collection is a women`s range and at the moment the priority would be to promote it in the Indian market,” Sierra Industrial Enterprises, licensee of Lotto Sport Italia, CEO Jaswant Singh said in New Delhi.

He said the company had plans to take the collection to the Middle East and Far East markets, where Indian-origin population is considerable.

By the fall winter of 2006, the signature collection range should be in those markets,” Singh said.

On the domestic front, he said the company was looking to boost sales from women`s products category and would also open more exclusive outlets.

“As of now, sales from women`s range contribute about 30 per cent of our total sales. Going forward we want to make it 50:50 between men`s and women`s product range,” he said.

Singh said the company would add three more exclusive outlets in December, while it planned to add 25-30 more in the next year.

He, however, declined to specify investments on retail expansion, as it would be done through franchisees.

Singh said the company was looking forward to a double digit growth in the next year

sania is a gold shop owner kya

Sania apologises for ad shoot in mosque

Sania apologises for ad shoot in mosque

Sania Mirza has apologized for hurting ''religious sentiments'' in an attempt to defuse the row over the shooting of a commercial featuring the tennis star at the historic Mecca Masjid for which she faced a trespass case.

''I would like to apologise to all my brothers and sisters and respected elders who are anguished by my unwittingly entering a portion of the land belonging to Mecca Masjid,'' Sania said in a letter to the Imam of the Masjid.

The apology ''with a deep sense of remorse'' came in the wake of the city police registering a case of trespass against Sania and the ad agency for filming the commercial allegedly without obtaining permission from the authorities.

As Muslim organisations and city-based party MIM questioned Sania for appearing in the shooting in the 17th century mosque premises, the tennis sensation said she was not aware that entering the outside gates of a mosque was also seriously objectionable.

''While I am fully aware that a woman must not enter the sanctity of the mosque, I was unaware that even entering the outside gates of a mosque was seriously objectionable, specially without permission, which I was assured by the agency they possessed,'' she said.

''However, I would like to unequivocally tender my apology to all my brothers and sisters for hurting their sentiments.''

Sania maintained that the commercial was aimed at promoting the heritage monument of Charminar which is a symbol of Hyderabad.

Sania courted trouble following a police complaint by District Minority Welfare Officer Kareemulla, who is the custodian of the mosque, that she and the agency's crew had made an unauthorised entry into the mosque on December 10.

Police described the cases as ''petty''.

Sania serves straight from the heart for younger sibling Anam

Tennis sensation, Sania Mirza, may have won the hearts of millions of her fans in India with her gutsy performance against the world number 5, Svetlana Kuznestova, the reigning US Open champion, before going down in the second round of Wimbledon Tennis Championships. But, she is on a different mission now -- to win the heart of her younger sister, Anam Mirza.

Guess what she purchased during her shopping jaunt in London? An air pistol for sister, Anam, who won a gold medal in the open air rifle shooting championship, at the Central University range.

For Sania, it was certainly a dream come true playing on the hallowed centre court of Wimbledon, but nothing beats the immense satisfaction of her younger sister hogging the limelight, her father Imran Mirza said.

"I am sure, Anam will be thrilled to bits seeing the gift," says the proud father.

Accompanied by her mother Naseema, Sania was keeping a close tab on the progress of Anam and both of them were in regular touch with over the phone.

Borrowed gun

Is Anam taking up shooting with all seriousness? "Well, initially, she showed interest in painting but slowly developed a keenness in the sport. So, we borrowed a gun for practice and were totally surprised and definitely pleased with the way she won the gold in her maiden competition," says Imran.

"I will not impose anything on her. We will leave it to her to choose any area which interests her," he said. "But I sincerely hope I will not be made to face the similar struggle, tension and pressure, financially too, as I did in shaping up Sania's tennis career," he quipped.

It was indeed an emotional moment for Imran, when the young Anam, a sixth standard student of Nasr School, walked up the podium to receive the prize from Girish Sanghi, MP.

Seems like the senior Mirza is ge

Leander Paes And Saina Mirza in winning Mood

sania brand ambasddar to hyundai gets premium

A Carrer Starts School to Tennis Ground Via to Brand Ambasddar wat a luck come on sania u are lucky Girl too hyd

Sania profile

Name Sania Mirza
Date of Birth 15 Nov 1986
Birth Place Mumbai
Nationality India

Height 1.67 m
Weight 54 kgs

Profession Tennis player
Education Nasr School
Family
* Father: Imran Mirza
* Mother: Nasima
* Sister: Anam

Started playing at the age of 6
Plays Right Handed (Double Handed Backhand)

Coach Krishna Bhupathi
Physiotherapist Mr Badrinath

First ITF junior event abroad Lahore, Pakistan
Has visited 35 countries
Favourite tennis player Steffi Graf

Career Highs- Career-High Singles : No. 31 (Oct 10th, 2005)
Career-High Doubles : No. 33 (June 12th 2006)
Current Singles Ranking - 40
Grand Slam (singles) History

W-L 06 05 04 03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 3-2 2r 3r - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ROLAND GARROS 0-2 1r 1r - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WIMBLEDON 1-2 1r 2r - - - - - - - - - - - - -
US OPEN 3-1 4r - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Education 10th standard (SSC) in the first division with 63 per cent marks.
Likes to stay at home, just watch a movie and surf the Net.
Dislikes Apple and bananas

Personal Favourites
* Food: briyani
* Actor: Akshay Kumar
* Actress: Raveena Tandon
* Songs: rap and Hindi
* Dress: Salwars, Jeans
* Colours: black,red and blue

Would like to see the movie Black
Prefers Advantage India to advantage Sania
Strengths Ground strokes
Needs to improve Her fitness

Tennis accessories
* Racquet: Head
* Clothing: adidas
* Shoes: adidas

Sponsoring Companies- GVK group and Adidas who picked her when she was only 12.
Current Endorsement deals- GVK Industries, Sahara, Atlas Cycles, Tata Tea and Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh
Daily Routine- Three hours of physical fitness training, in a day which includes all kinds of training, gym 3-4 times a week, some speed work, endurance and agility.
As a junior- The US Open 2003 is her last Grand Slam as a junior after which she will be playing in the seniors.

Her grandfather Muhammad Zafar Mirza, played university-level cricket. He also played club cricket for Middlesex in England. But his first love was hockey.

Titles won- Feb 2005 Won Hyderabad Open WTA
Oct 30, 2003 won gold in afro-asian games at Hyderabad
Jun 2003 G18 Doubles Champion (with Alisa Kleybanova RUS), The Junior Championships, Wimbledon, London, GBR, ITF GA
Jun 2003 Doubles Winner (with Sanaa Bhambri IND), 11th Frankfurt Int’l, Germany
Apr 2003 Doubles Winner (with Sanaa Bhambri IND), Shuzo Challenge Japan Open, Nagoya, JPN, ITF G1
Apr 2003 G18 Singles Winner, 14th Mitsubishi Lancer, Manila, Philippines

Dec 2002 Singles Winner & Doubles Finalist (with Isha Lakhani IND), Asian Closed Junior Tennis Championships
Aug 2002 Singles Winner & Doubles Winner (with Tarryn Terblanche RSA), South/Central Africa Circuit, Botswana
Jul 2002 Singles Winner & Doubles Winner (with Isha Lakhani IND), Pretoria University
Jul 2002 Doubles Winner (with Isha Lakhani IND), PIC Pretoria
Jan 2002 Doubles Winner (with Linda Smolenakova SVK) & Singles Qtrfinalist, Victorian Champs., Australia

Jul 2001 Singles & Doubles Winner (with Sasha Abraham IND), Movenpick Int’l
Feb 2001 Singles Winner & Doubles Quarterfinalist (with Sasha Abraham IND), Bangladesh
Feb 2001 Singles Winner & Doubles Finalist (with May Rosa INA), India ITF Junior Circuit III - Calcutta
Jan 2001 Doubles Winner (with Sasha Abraham IND) & Singles Quarterfinalist, Indian ITF Junior I - New Delhi

Oct 2000 Singles & Doubles Winner (with Zahra Omer Khan PAK), Pakistan Int’l Junior Championships
Sep 2000 Singles Winner & Doubles Semifinalist (with Reddhina Parekh IND), Indian ITF - Mumbai

Nov 1999 Doubles Winner (with Nida Waseem PAK) & Singles Finalist, Pakistan Int’l

2006 IN DETAIL
JANUARY - Fell 1r at Sydney (l. to Hantuchova in 3s); in first Grand Slam of career to be seeded, upset in 2r (as No.32 seed, l. to Krajicek).

FEBRUARY - Reached 2r at Paris [Indoors] (d. world No.16 Pennetta in 1r for third career Top 20 victory; l. to eventual semifinalist Golovin); at Bangalore, upset in 2r of singles (as top seed, l. to unseeded Pin 16 75 62, having led 5-3 second set) but captured second career Tour doubles title (as No.2 seeds w/L.Huber); fell 1r at Dubai (l. to WC Hingis).

MARCH - At Indian Wells, reached 3r in singles (as No.28 seed, pushed No.4 seed and eventual runner-up Dementieva to 3s) and QF in doubles (w/Sugiyama; upset No.2 seeds Black/Stubbs en route); at Miami, fell 1r in singles (l. to WC Tatishvili 76 third set) but reached QF in doubles (as WC team w/Ivanovic).

APRIL - At Amelia Island, fell 1r in singles (l. to Raymond) but reached third career Tour doubles final, finishing runner-up (w/L.Huber).

MAY - Withdrew from Rome w/low back and wrist injury; at Istanbul, reached 2r in singles (as No.5 seed, l. to Krajicek in 3s) and finished runner-up in doubles (w/Molik; now 2-2 lifetime in Tour doubles finals); fell 1r at Roland Garros (l. to No.10 seed Myskina).

JUNE - Reached 3r at Birmingham (as No.14 seed, d. Perry en route; l. to qualifier Tu 76 third set); fell 1r at ’s-Hertogenbosch (l. to Benesova in 3s); fell 1r at Wimbledon (l. to No.7 seed Dementieva).

Facts The first woman from India to capture a WTA Tour title, when she paired with Lizel Huber of South Africa to win the Hyderabad Open doubles title.

Became the first-ever Indian girl to have won a Grand Slam title when she triumphed in the girls’ doubles event at Wimbledon partnering Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.

Former Health Minister Sushma Swaraj handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh when she won the Wimbledon junior girls’ doubles title, and projected her as the brand ambassador of the Family Welfare Department.

Her dad Imran Mirza and mom Nasima were watching a Steffi Graf and Conchita Martinez battle, when they decided to make their daughter a Tennis star.

Annually Sania requires 40 lakhs for her expenses and Andhra Pradesh government is trying their level best to see that the lady scales height.

Former Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, announced that the Grand Slam title winner would be presented a house site and a cash incentive of Rs 10 lakhs in recognition of her brilliant performance in the Wimbledon.

Prize money $140,000 WTA Hyderabad Open
Plans after Tennis Interior Decoration or start a tennis academy

Credits her success Parents, coaches and God.
Mental strength Prays five times a day and says that is as good as meditation.
Security Two armed police guards will shadow Sania wherever she goes in the state.

About her Her coach: “Sania has the right material to reach the very top”

Leander Paes:”I personally feel that she is one of the frontrunners of Indian sports”

Mahesh Bhupathi:”She’s on a roll and it’s obviously not going to last forever. But she deserves it all.”

Dream man “I think he needs to understand me and he needs to be a nice person and not have any ego hassles. I need a guy who understands me.”

Aim To Remain in the top 50 for this year.

Quote “Do not worry about winning or losing. Work hard and you will be successful.”