NEW DELHI, JUNE 10: She was forced to partner Leander Paes during the 2012 London Olympics but this time around world No. 1 doubles player Sania Mirza has “conveyed” her decision to AITA top brass about her preferred mixed doubles partner at the Rio Games.
“I have already spoken to AITA and conveyed my decision on the Olympic issue. They have a meeting on the 11th (June) and let’s wait for that,” Sania said.
Asked if she would divulge as to what transpired during your discussions with AITA bosses, Sania said a curt no. “No, I won’t.”
It’s no secret that Sania and Rohan Bopanna are likely to pair in mixed doubles, the category where India have the best chance of winning a medal.
Looking resplendent in a black evening gown, as soon as Sania entered the ceremony hall, funnily enough, the other main protagonist in the Rio tennis saga, Leander, too dropped in, looking dapper in a black suit.
For Sania, the focus has now completely shifted to Wimbledon where she and Martian Hingis will be defending their women’s doubles title.
“Winning every tournament is a difficult thing. But it’s a pleasure being defending champions and there is pressure also. There was pressure first time also and it will be no different. We will take one match at a time, ” said the world No. 1.
The duo had a 41-match winning streak that was broken in February this year, but Sania is confident that they will be able to keep the level up.
“Red clay is not our favourite surface and it was one bad day. But we both then picked up our game to keep up the level in mixed doubles,” she told during the CNN18’s event where she won the ‘Indian Sportsperson of the Year’ award.
Her autobiography will be hitting the market soon and she said that it is her story of guts and glory along with pleasures and pains of being at the top for such a long time.
Is there a possibility of seeing shades of Andre Agassi’s ‘Open’ in her book, she replied: “Andre told his story and I will be telling my story. Every story is unique and special in its own way. I have gone through a lot both on and off the court. It’s been a long journey and I owe it to family who have shared this with me. I hope my book inspires the aspiring tennis players in our country,” Sania concluded.
