BOMBAY,15 September 2006 — Indian teenager Sania Mirza is being hampered by the high expectations of her compatriots a year after being hailed as the nation’s glowing tennis prospect.
The 19-year-old Mirza enjoyed a breakthrough 2005 when she became the first Indian to crack the top-50 in the women’s tennis rankings, but a disappointing run this season has pulled her down to 70.
“You know, how much ever I say I can block it out, it is very hard,” she said about the pressure and criticism she faces, while talking at a promotional event yesterday for next week’s WTA event in Calcutta.
“Every time I switch on the TV there are shows about me ... people have programs about how bad I am doing. It is hard but I have to deal with it.” Mirza surged from 206th in the women’s world rankings in 2004 to a career high 31 in October last year. She also became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament at the US Open before succumbing to Russia’s Maria Sharapova.
“I had a phenomenal year last year, and I don’t think it is humanly possible to repeat that year after year,” said Mirza.
“I think we all should be prepared for me to be playing losing matches and winning matches and having a bad year and maybe next year have another phenomenal year.” Mirza reached the quarterfinal stage in singles in only two tournaments this year and her ranking dropped to 70. “I don’t think that I’ve had the worst year. I didn’t get enough wins that I wanted, but the year is not over yet,” said Mirza, who suffered a back and wrist injury in May.
“I’m an optimistic person and like to look at things optimistically. I’ve learned a lot, worked on a lot of my weaknesses. I’ve had some injuries. That’s just how it is.”
