Sania Mirza is the choice of CNN-IBN viewers

Sania Mirza, the tennis sensation from Hyderabad is the sportsperson of India, for the year 2005, as per the poll conducted by CNN-IBN News Channel. The International sportsperson for the year 2005 goes to Fernando Alonso, Formula 1 World Champion. Sania Mirza is a clear winner and came ahead of many sportspersons of India, and certainly Sania is not only a good player, she is also in the heart of millions of Indian.

And why not ? Look at her meteoric rise :

On 19 January 2005, 18-year-old Sania Mirza had become the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tennis event. Sania Mirza ranked 166, who got a wild card entry into the Australian Open in Melbourne, beat Hungarian Petra Mandula, a former French Open quarterfinalist, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round, and lost to Serena Williams in third round.
The only other Indian woman to win a match at a Grand Slam is Nirupama Vaidyanathan, who made it to the second round of the Australian Open in 1998.

On Feb 7, in Hyderabad Open 2005, a Tier IV event played at Hyderabad , INDIA , Sania became the first Indian women to win a WTA singles title, beating 9 seeded Alyona Bondarenko (UKR) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

In March , for the Dubai Open 2005, Sania ( Wild Card) beat - Jelena Kostanic 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-1 in the first round and then in second round, beat in straight set, fourth seeded SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS) 6-4, 6-2. ( incidentally KUZNETSOVA was runners up in Doubles at Dubai partnered with Alicia Molik, (AUS)).

At the beginning of August 2005, in Acura Classic, a Tier I level , at San Diego, CA – USA, Sania Mirza ( Qualifying) became first Indian woman player to crack top 50 rankings, beating No.4 seed Nadia Petrova, 6-2, 6-1 in the last 16 .

Again in third week of August 2005, in Forest Hills Women’s Tennis Classic, a Tier IV level, in Forest Hills, NY – USA, Sania Mirza lost in SINGLES final to Lucie Safarova (CZE) 3-6. 7-5. 6-4.

At the end of August 2005 came the Grand Slam event, US Open 2005, at Flushing Meadows, NY – USA, where Sania Mirza kept the spectators spellbound with her improved performance to knock out WTA rank 43, Marion Bartoli of France 7-6 (4), 6-4 to become the first Indian woman to reach the final 16 (fourth round) of any Grand Slam. Then Sania met 18 years 4 months old Russian, WTA rank 2nd, Maria Sharapova for the first time ever, and lost to her in 4th round.

And what other players said about Sania Mirza ?

Let us start with what SANIA things of herself ? Here is Sania’s remark :

”That’s how I play. I’m going to have maybe 50 unforced errors one day, but I’m going to also have 50 winners that day, … People just have to accept me the way I play. Maybe I can add variation to my game, but I’m going to win matches only when I hit those winners.”

Serena Williams, after her match at the Australian Open:

“She has a very solid game, especially to be so young, she’s only 18. I definitely see a very bright future for her.”

Kim Clijsters commented:

“Her best tennis is incredible. She’s probably hitting the ball a lot harder and cleaner than a lot of the top girls.”

Maria Sharapova after her match at the US Open:

“I think she’s definitely great for the sport. You know, tennis is a very global sport. It’s amazing how we have, you know, such great athletes. She’s very young, has a great future ahead of her. Very big game. But of course with time, I think she needs experience, you know, she’ll learn.”

And what Sania’s T-Shirt says :

Well-behaved women rarely make history
You Can Either Agree With Me, or Be Wrong
I’m Cute? No s***!
Don’t Get in My Way

We will see Sania in action in Australian Open 2006 in January, after her training with Tony Roche (at Sydney), coach to World No One Roger Federer.

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