Sania Mirza she is simply India’s first tennis superstar.
While Leander Paes, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bronze medalist and multiple honours, led Indian tennis into the new millennium, tennis fans across the country longed for someone to be the tricolor champion in the women’s arena.
In Sania Mirza of Hyderabad, the nation has found exactly that.
Looking back, here is a comprehensive summary of Sania Mirza’s awards and accolades, who not only cemented her position as India’s greatest tennis star, but also as a national sports icon.
Sani Mirza’s Grand Slam titles
Often regarded as the ultimate measure of a top tennis player’s achievement on the professional circuit, Sani Mirza’s trophy cabinet is studded with six Grand Slam winning medals.
2009 Australian Open mixed doubles
Her maiden triumph came in 2009 when she partnered with Mahesh BhupathI win the Australian Open mixed doubles title.
After stumbling across the final hurdle at Melbourne Park the year before, the duo were on a mission and didn’t lose a single set until reaching the quarter-finals against Canadian duo Aleksandra Wozniak and Daniel Nestor.
The pair from India lost the first set 3-6, but came back with a bang and advanced to the semi-finals.
From there, there was no turning back as the two Czech duos defeated Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy 6-4, 6-1 in the semi-finals before beating Israeli Andy Ram and French Nathalie Dechy 6-3, 6-1 to win the title.
“Winning a Grand Slam is always a dream. That’s what we all play for. It’s just great. It makes him more special because he’s with someone I’ve known for so long and so well.”
French Open 2012 mixed doubles
The duo teamed up to make India proud again three years later, this time on the hallowed clay of Roland Garros.
