London, Jul 12 (PTI): India’s tennis queen Sania Mirza on Saturday night created history by becoming the first female player from the country to win a women’s doubles Grand Slam trophy as she clinched the Wimbledon title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis, in London.
12 years after turning Pro, 28-year-old Sania laid hands on her first women’s doubles Major title when she and Hingis battled past second seed Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7 7-6(4) 7-5 in a thrilling final.
In an interesting coincidence it was at these very historic courts that Sania had won women’s doubles junior Wimbledon championship with Russian partner Alisa Kleybanova in 2003.
Sania had come close to winning a women’s doubles Major in 2011 when she reached the French Open final with Elena Vesnina but ended up runners-up.
Already having a long list of firsts, Sania had become India’s first woman player to win a Grand Slam when she won the Australian Open with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2009.
She later added French Open (2012 with Bhupathi) and US Open (2014 with Bruno Soares) to her mixed doubles collection.
It was a remarkable turn around for the top seeds as they were trailing 2-5 in the deciding set but made a stunning comeback to reel off five straight games to clinch the issue.Vesnina was all fired up and her smashing volleys at the net put Sania and Hingis in a lot of trouble. The Russian was left distraught as she played out of her skin.
It was third time in recent times that Sania and Hingis played the two Russian in finals –Indian Wells and Miami — and asserted their supremacy again.
Sania was broken in the very first game of the match when Vesnina hit a volley winner from the net but the top seeds immediately broke Vesnina to avoid falling behind. It was a remarkable lob from Hingis that gave them two break chances and they converted the second.
Sania and Hingis put tremendous pressure on the their rivals but the two Russians responded well and it was 5-5.
Hingis was broken in the 11th game at love after a terrific rally of powerful groundstrokes from left handed Makarova. Vesnina pounced on one return from the Swiss and hammered the volley winner close to the body of Sania.
Makarova served for the set and it was Vesnina’s smart play at the net that sealed them the opening set. It was the first set that Sania and Hingis had dropped in this tournament.The top seeds had two chances to get an early break in the second set on the serve of Makarova but the Russians fought off both the chances to hold on.
There was no break of serve in the second set which was decided via tie-breaker. Sania and Hingis raced to a 4-1 lead before the Russians fought back to reduce the margin.
When Vesnina served at 4-5, Hingis sent a stunning backhand winner down the line to earn the set point which Sania converted with a powerful forehand winner.
The second seeds broke Hingis in the fourth game of the decider to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Yet again it was Vesnina, who was electric at the net as she sank a winner after the longest rally of the match.
A strong hold by Makarova made it 4-1 for the Russians. Sania and Hingis had great opportunity to make a comeback and when Vesnina went down 0-40 in the seventh game but they could convert none of the three chances and fell behind 2-5.
Makarova served for the match in the ninth game but the top seeds brought the match back on serve, albeit after squandering three break chances.
Sania hit a stunning service return winner to earn fourth break point and Hingis’ volley converted the chance. From 2-5, they won four games in a row to be in a position to serve out the match.
Comment on this article
Alban D Souza, Udyavara/Bajjodi/Mumbai/Doha Qatar
Mon, Jul 13 2015Good Show Congratulations! Sania Mirza Queen of India's Tennis. Great Achievement . Proud moment for Indian Sports. Great inspiration to Indian girls in particular and Indians in general If we respect & encourage girls , They can beat any odds with the support of family and parents can bring laurels to the family in particular and country in general. We wish you all success for the future.
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CONRAD JOHN TAURO, SHIRVA/UDUPI/DUBAI
Sun, Jul 12 2015Congratulations and best of luck.
Sania Ka Duniya.
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Simon, Abu Dhabi / Mangalore
Sun, Jul 12 2015There was something to prove for these bold ladies and they did it in style. Both were single players but now they are formidable double players. The number one ranking indeed justified. Congratulation, keep moving. God bless you.
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M. Madhukar M,
Sun, Jul 12 2015SANIA YOU MADE IT... ALL THE BEST
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Amith, udupi
Sun, Jul 12 2015fantastic achievement sania ..you are a role model to millions of girls in India ..hats off ..proud of you
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Clifford, Mangalore
Sun, Jul 12 2015All those VHP and BJP bakths who have been mouthing off against Sania have been given apt reply by her. Go and hide your faces in shame. She is a free individual and she she can marry whom she wants.
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M.E.Moolur, Udupi/Dubai
Sun, Jul 12 2015It is disgusting to read some intellectually corrupt individual’s comment where racial discrimination is oozing out. Sania is an Indian citizen. She plays for India. Her victory brings glory to India.
Marrying Shoaib is her personal issue. There are many well known Indian athletes, sports persons, who married foreigners. I don't understanding the logic behind spewing venom against only Sania. Is this ignorance, racial hatred or religious rIvelry ? It is strange that an Indian Girl wins Double Grand Slam and few of our brothers feel annoyed rather than feeling proud of it. I feel severely pained that Racism, Fascism, Communalism and many more "ISM"s are slowly but steadily eroding the very secular fabric of society. God save our country. M.E.Moolur.
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Fathima Mohd, Bajpe/Riyadh
Sun, Jul 12 2015When she calls herself Indian,plays for India and comments "hope my win inspires a lot of girls in India", shouldnt Pakistan be the one jealous and questioning her loyalty? The joke is on Pakistan not us Indians. What are you guys workign upon? This goes for all the ones here who are debating her nationality/loyalty. Do not forget our own Mullahs and the likes of Owaisi were commenting and planning to issue a Fatwa to her for the length of the skirt she was wearing.
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MILAN, DXB
Sun, Jul 12 2015NO BODY HAS THE RIGHT TO GIVE ANY PERSON A FATWA.
IT'S ALLAH TO DECIDE. ONE GOOD DEED WILL TAKE THEM TO HEAVEN.
THERE MULLAS WHO GIVE FATWA ARE THEY 100% PERFECT. I DON'T THINK SO
SAINA MIRZA PRAYS FIVE TIMES A DAY AND EVEN SHE DID HAJJ.
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rum, kalladka/ayodhya
Sun, Jul 12 2015now sadvi, thogadia ,mohan bhagavath start pakisthan hatao abhiyan on saniya.
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Akarshad, England
Sun, Jul 12 2015Congrats Hingis.
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DD , Mangluru
Sun, Jul 12 2015Who will celebrate the victory?
Indian fans or pakisthani?
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Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai
Sun, Jul 12 2015Daughter is always daughter.
Sister is always Sister.
Better not to go so deeper.
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RAJ, MLORE
Sun, Jul 12 2015CONGRATS SAINA
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Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai
Sun, Jul 12 2015Please learn to respect your Country's National Flag ...
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Amin Bhoja, Patte / Riyadh
Sun, Jul 12 2015A crown in dispute !!!
Congrats !!!
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Declan, Mumbai
Sun, Jul 12 2015Congratulations Sania !
We hope Pakistan is not trying to take credit for this.
Sania learned the sport, practiced and trained in India. Moreover, we do not think she has changed her nationality.
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Hussain, dxb
Sun, Jul 12 2015Congrats Sania & Hingis...What a moment for Hingis, having retired twice she won Wimbledon title in her 3rd comeback..
Hingis all the best for the next finals again with an Indian partner Mr. Leander paes
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vivek, herebile / abudhabi
Sun, Jul 12 2015Dil hai Hindustani.....Badan hai PAkistani!!....Congrats - Anyway!!...
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Valerian D'souza, Udupi / Mumbai
Sun, Jul 12 2015So great, Sania Mirza is truly India’s tennis queen.
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martin,
Sun, Jul 12 2015WOW sania.. way to go.. congrats.. & huge thanks as you are the only few apart from Mary kom & Leander paes who are keeping indias sports field alive in world arena.
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Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai
Sun, Jul 12 2015Good for nothing Shoaib Malik is lucky for Sania Mirza ...
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Declan, Mumbai
Sun, Jul 12 2015It is the other way around. Sania's victory gives Shoaib something to feel happy about and some feeling of achievement which he could never get as a mediocre cricketer.
Jossey bro, Shoaib is not lucky for himself, from where can he bring luck to Sania.
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gm, mlur
Sun, Jul 12 2015Well done & congrats...
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malika, udupi
Sun, Jul 12 2015Congrats
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