HYDERABAD: Late on Saturday evening, Sania Mirza, with her doubles partner Martina Hingis, enacted a rousing comeback to claim the Wimbledon women’s doubles crown. Her first on the hallowed All England turf and the first by an Indian woman.
On Sunday, India’s haul got better, as Leander Paes, with Hingis, claimed the mixed double’s title after 17-year-old Sumit Nagal became only the sixth Indian to win a Grand Slam junior title when he won the boy’s doubles crown with Vietnam’s Nam Hoang Ly.
For Sania it was a childhood dream come true. “This is something we dream of as kids. I always say this. Every kid that picks up a tennis racquet thinks about winning Wimbledon or playing at Wimbledon one day,” she told the official website.
The very ambience of the Centre Court lifted her performance. “We had goosebumps. The energy on the court, we were getting a standing ovation, it was unbelievable. We both came out and I said, this is what we play for, this is what we work for, this energy. These are the moments we worked years and years and all our lives for,” she recollected.
Her father Imran Mirza was with her throughout those years of dreaming. “One hopes for it even while knowing it is a difficult target to achieve. All credit goes to Sania for her perseverance. Her biggest strength is her confidence,” he said.
The alliance with Hingis is paying rich dividends for the 28-year-old. Sania was World No 7 when she paired up with Hingis, in March. Four months later, she is the No 1. Nonetheless, she is not too obsessed with rankings. Rather, she is simply soaking in the moment.
“I know nothing lasts forever and so there is no real pressure considering that I will remain a former World No 1 for the rest of my life. But I want to remain here as long as possible,” she said.
There was a hint of relief in those words, perhaps the relief of someone who has achieved everything she has dreamt of, everything within her limits and beyond. And she wants to keep inspiring youngsters back home. Whether Sania is the most successful Indian women athlete is subject to debate, and perspective. There are contemporaries from other realms, like shuttler Saina Nehwal and boxer M C Mary Kom.
Like them, Sania has surmounted barriers, in fact much before them, her triumphs investing future generations with a certain courage. But has there been a more popular Indian woman athlete ever? A resounding no, like her whiplash forehand that storms past the opponent.
Meanwhile, Hingis is proving to be a lucky charm for Indians, as she accompanied Paes to his 16th Grand Slam. And at 42, Paes is still functioning like a well-oiled machine. And this weekend, by no stretch of exaggeration, has been India’s best at Grand Slams.
Djokovic halts fedex
Defending champion Novak Djokovic won his third Wimbledon title and a ninth Grand Slam crown on Sunday, ruthlessly shattering Roger Federer’s bid for a record eighth All England Club triumph.