adminNEW DELHI. — Tennis sensation Sania Mirza, who is set to end the year as world number nine, said she did not follow rankings. “Playing well takes care of the rankings,” she said in an exclusive interview. She said Cara Black of Zimbabwe was one of her best doubles players ever. “It’s an honour to play with her. I learn a lot especially the way she approaches certain points. We can improve and be even better and help each other out,” she said.
On playing with five different partners, Sania said it was frustrating. “I could not play the year-end championships despite winning the highest number of titles this year.
“But these things are not in my hand. Unfortunately, Bethanie got injured. It was a tough decision for us to split because we are best friends. I had to go through the grind of finding partners and then adjusting with them,” she said. She said she was optimistic about her partnership with Black in 2014. “We need to work on certain things. She will be in Hyderabad in December and we will train together. We can be the best, that’s always the aim.”
Asked about Sachin Tendulkar, who is set to retire from cricket soon, Sania said: “No one wants Sachin to retire. But that’s not possible. We have to respect his decision.”
“Technically, I understand where he’s coming from as he’s been at the top for so long,” she said. “He did more than many people put together for the game and the country. So we’re fortunate to be in the same era as him. I wish him all the best for his future life.” She said her first memory of Sachin was when she won the Junior Wimbledon. — India Today
Online Reporter