The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : I had nothing to lose: Sania

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

I had nothing to lose: Sania

By V. V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, JAN. 21. It was the end of the campaign in the Australian Open. But, can well be the beginning of a new chapter in Indian women's tennis. City's most famous tennis player and, arguably, the

most-talked-about sportsperson in the last four days, Sania Mirza did not only the country proud but her tennis fraternity a great deal of service by making the WTA Tour officials take note of a player willing to emerge on the scene. "I had nothing to lose. I just played my normal game. No doubt, it was a bad start but the fact that I played my normal game in the second set was really satisfying," Sania explained.

What exactly were her feelings before going into the match? "Frankly, I never felt overawed either by the ambience or the stature of my opponent Serena Williams.

I knew it was not that easy to even dream of winning. Essentially I was sincerely trying not to be found wanting in my commitment and efforts," Sania remarked. The early morning prayers were there, no doubt, for it being Id. Then, Sania's routine call to the parents once again.

What did they advise? "Nothing special. Normal things. Like asking me to play my normal game. Not to think big and try to do anything big," says the articulate Sania.

"In the first set I did feel the awesome strength of Serena. That's what exactly I was so keen and excited yesterday.

To know what it actually means to go out and play there," she explained. Did she feel that she was in with a chance to cause an upset of sorts in the second set? "Not really, but I could have played better game and extended the issue at least into tie- breaker," she regretted.

Always optimistic

What is the biggest lesson for her from today's match? "You can always be optimistic irrespective of who the opponent is," was her quick reply.

"When you never thought of winning but only focused on playing on your natural game, I don't think I am too obsessed with the result," she says without any hiccups. "But, believe me, it was a great feeling out there playing against someone like Serena," she reiterated.

Great memories? "Well, it is an unforgettable experience. Especially the way the fans lunge forward to take the autographs. I really enjoyed that. For

once, I was fortunate to go through the passage of a Grand Slam event," she says with a hearty laugh.

Well, no one can take the credit away from Sania for taking Indian women's tennis to new heights. And by her own confession, it is a significant landmark -- a third round appearance in her maiden Grand Slam -- from her career's point of view.

What exactly did Serena Williams tell her at the end of the match? "Nothing special. Well played and a word of encouragement. I felt excited when she exchanged those few words. These are the things which should really help me come up in the big league," says Sania.

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