Ace of Tennis

Bouncy, boisterous, bodacious, this tennis sensation from Hyderabad have won a series of aces for Indian sport. 

This youth icon, reigning over a decade, has captivated many sports buffs in Asia. On or off the field, the 27-year-old has managed the media limelight for the right reasons, and at times for the wrong ones. 

This Arjuna Award winner is the brand ambassador for the new state of Telangana.

Eary Life

Sania Mirza was born on November 15, 1986 in Mumbai. Love for sports ran through the blood of the family as two ex cricket captains of India and Pakistan were her relatives and her dad was a sports journalist.

Brought up in Hyderabad, her first swing of the racquet came at the age of six.  She attended NASR School in Hyderabad and later graduated from St. Mary’s College.

Career

Mirza started to show early success as she made her debut in April 2001 on the ITF Circuit as a 15-year-old.

She helped India win a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event of the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, partnering Leander Paes. She turned professional in 2003, picking up 4 gold medals at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad.

In February, Mirza became the first ever Indian woman to win a WTA title, by winning her hometown event, the 2005 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open.

In 2006, Mirza picked up three medals at the Doha Asian Games – Gold, in mixed doubles and Silver in women’s singles and team.

She fared better in doubles as she won four doubles titles in 2007. In mixed doubles Mirza picked up her first Grand Slam title at the 2009 Australian Open, partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi.

Mirza represented India at the 2010 Asian Games winning bronze and silver at the singles and mixed double event respectively.  

Awards

WTA New Comer of the Year (2005)

Padma Shri (2006)

Hyderabad Women of the Decade Achievers Award for Excellence in Sports (2014)