Both Sachin Tendulkar and Sania Mirza might use different equipment for conquering their opponents. However, there is a common factor which unites them – representing India in the sporting world. In a column for Time, the iconic cricketer has written an exemplary profile for the tennis star.
Mirza was one among the only three Indians to make it to the ‘Time 100’ list, alongside Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan and actress Priyanka Chopra. From one sports luminary to another, Tendulkar was effusive in his admiration for the 29-year old Sania.
A feared ODI opener during his heydays, he began with an etymological reference. Sachin noted, “The Mirzas probably knew what the future held for their daughter. Her name, Sania, means ‘brilliant‘.”
Reminiscing on the first time that he watched her in action, Tendulkar affirmed, “I first heard about Sania Mirza back in 2005 when she became the first Indian to win a Women’s Tennis Association event. In 2008 I saw her play in the third round of the Australian Open against Venus Williams. Though she lost, I believed she had the potential to be a star.“
Sania showed plenty of promise in the singles field when she was in her prime during the mid-2000s. However, injuries forced her to concentrate more on the doubles circuit which eventually turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Commending her determination to overcome major fitness worries and make a stirring comeback, Sachin asserted, “When Sania’s singles career was cut short by wrist injuries, she, through dedication and willpower, reinvented herself fully as a doubles player.”
Focusing on Sania’s dominance in women’s doubles, he added, “Today Sania and her partner on court, Martina Hingis, are No. 1 in doubles and utterly dominant—they have taken the past three Grand Slam events.“
The Mumbai-born Mirza has been a trendsetter in Indian tennis. In a country where sports were dominated by men, the 29-year old broke stereotypes and brought laurels to her country.
Sachin concluded with the impact that she had made on millions of Indians. The batting maestro enthused, "Sania’s confidence, strength and resilience reach beyond tennis. She has inspired a generation of Indians to pursue their dreams—and to realize that they can also be the best.“
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