Revision as of 09:31, 15 April 2015

2014

The Times of India

Sania, who was 27 in 2014, won:

the mixed doubles crown at the US Open

a gold and a bronze medal at the Asian Games, and

a title in Japan.

She also made it to the final in Beijing.

Above all, in Oct 2014 she won her biggest prize yet in women’s doubles: the WTA Finals -in Singapore. She partnered veteran Zimbabwean Cara Black to the title in her maiden appearance at the event.

Sania and Black ran through their opponents, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai of China — the second seeds and defending champions —winning 12 straight games. They won 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.

Sania became the first Indian woman to clinch this title. She shared $500,000 with Black. Sania also became the first Indian, man or woman, in almost four decades to win the season finale. The first and only previous Indian to win the title was Vijay Amritraj in 1977, when he won the men’s event alongside American Dick Stockton.

Sania put the win on a par with her Grand Slams (three mixed doubles titles).

After winning Sania said, “This title is for India, my country.” She added, “This tournament is tougher than a Grand Slam because you are up against the eight best teams in the world,” the superstar pro said. “In a Grand Slam, you have a chance to play yourself in and you are guaranteed of not meeting a top team until the quarters.”

Partnership with Cara

Sania and Cara (born: 1979, and 35 in 2014) started their partnership with victories in Tokyo and Beijing (in late 2013), and finished with the WTA victory.

2015: World No. 1 in doubles

On 12 April 2015 Sania Mirza and partner Martina Hingis achieved World number one rank in doubles after winning the Family Circle Cup title at the WTA. This accomplishment makes Sania the first and only Indian female tennis player to ever achieve the top spot till then. The Family Circle Cup was Sania’s third consecutive title win with Swiss tennis star Martina Hingis propelling the duo to rank one.