Mumbai: She has been the toast of the nation and the poster girl of Indian tennis but it hasn't been an easy year for 19-year-old Sania Mirza.
From a career high 31, this week saw her ranking fall to 70 after her loss in the second round of the US Open.
Sania was in Mumbai to promote the WTA Sunfeast Open that starts next week in Kolkata.
"Well, honestly that's not my priority right now. Rankings are just numbers and it can go up or come down. I might be 200 tomorrow," Sania says.
Her performance last year saw Sania Mirza win the award for WTA's emerging player of the year but now she is finding the going tough.
She has failed to get past the second round of any of the Grand Slam tournament this year.
"I think now all the players come prepared as to who they are playing. I may be having a bad time this year but may be next year will be another phenomenal year. Honestly I don't think that I have had the worst year. Of course I did not get enough wins that I should have but the year is not over yet," She says.
And the pressure is certainly telling on the teenager.
"Every time you switch on the TV there are jokes being played about you. There are programme about how bad you have been playing. That is something that a sportsperson has to deal with. I have many cricketer friends and no one knows it better then them about the pressure," she adds.
Sania will also lead the Indian challenge in the Asian games later in the year where she will also pair with Leander Paes for the mixed doubles.
Comments
0 comment