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Sania will rise again: coach

Kalyan Ashok

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Scott Davidoff.

BANGALORE: Sania Mirza has what it takes to become a top-30 player again, says coach Scott Davidoff, who has been training her along with Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna at the Tennis Village here.

In a chat with The Hindu, the 37-year old Davidoff, who has worked with some of the top ATP Tour players including Wayne Arthurs, said: “I see her as one of the top women players of the world. The prolonged break has, in fact, done her good and it is nice to see her healthy and hitting as hard as ever. She is lot quicker and, definitely, her big forehand is in really good shape now, and so is the first serve,” he said.

He said Sania needed match-play to get back her confidence. “She has been a positive person and I am sure she will do it,” he said.

“When you are making a comeback, everything might not fall into place quickly and one needs to be patient. Also, it is important to have the right folks around you — trainer, coach, family and friends…and set little goals,” he said.

Praise for Bhupathi

Davidoff praised Mahesh Bhupathi’s performance over the season.

“He started at 24 and finished as No.6 in the individual doubles ranking. He and (Mark) Knowles are the World No. 3 pair now. Though I am happy with the way the year went for him, I expect to push him more and ensure that they become the No. 1 pair. He has worked hard and is in good shape, and hopes to start strongly with a win in the Chennai Open,” he said.

Davidoff said he was pleased also with Rohan Bopanna’s run in 2008.

“He has had wins in singles and doubles, and the win over Leander Paes and Paul Hanley in the last Australian Open doubles means a lot to him. But Rohan is in a bit of a Catch-22 situation, in the sense that his doubles ranking is better than his singles. I think his priority is shifting to doubles. He is teaming up with Jarkko Nieminen, which is good for him. He has a tremedous serve and we have been working on his net game. He has the potential to be a top-25 doubles player,” Davidoff said.

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