Queen of the court: the trailblazer who never backed down

Sania Mirza is no ordinary champion. She reached No. 1 and won multiple Grand Slam titles, doing things on her terms and inspiring millions with her courage in tennis and in life

A month ago, when Sania Mirza announced that she would be walking away from tennis at the end of the season, it brought a tinge of sadness.

“My body is wearing down,” she said, after losing her first-round doubles match at the Australian Open. “For me to find that motivation every day to come out, the energy is not the same anymore.” The court, her home since the age of six, where she seemed free and full of expression, had turned unwelcoming. The fierce competitiveness that had sustained her all through had dissipated.

It took a while for the news to sink in, but once it did, it was time to celebrate her. Sania is no ordinary champion. Her career is like a great publisher’s splendid backlist, peppered with glorious titles. She is the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam trophy and the first to reach No. 1 (both in doubles). She is the first Indian to win a WTA title and peaked at No. 27 in singles, the best for an Indian woman.

Sania featured in the singles’ top-32 for a large portion of a four-year period (2005-08); and for the next four years (until 2012), her top ranking each year did not dip below No. 97.

There was her successful return to competitive tennis after motherhood and a central role in inspiring all women to be successful on their own terms.

“She put Indian women’s tennis on the world map,” says Ankita Bhambri, Sania’s peer, teammate and most recently a coach in India’s Fed Cup team. “She made feel possible what seemed unattainable. We didn’t really believe we could make a career out of tennis and go far. She has definitely shown everyone the way and the path.”

When Sania turned pro in 2003, power was taking hold in women’s tennis. Racquet and string technology were advancing and the Williams sisters — Venus and Serena — had changed the game, with their strength, serve and all-round shot-making.