By Jilawatan

Shutterbugs may go click-happy on spotting her, but Sania Mirza says this is not something that she’s worked for. With her eyes set on the
singles tournaments, tennis’ ‘it’ girl says that her only job is to give her best on the court.

First the Australian Open, then the Pattaya Open final. Would you say you are playing your best tennis?
Hopefully, I’m getting there!

You’ve had Mara Santangelo, Vania King, Liezel Huber accompanying you at the court. Who, according to you has been the best? Also, why is it that you haven’t had any permanent doubles partner?
Liezel Huber is one of the best doubles players in the world. I’m concentrating more on my singles and my schedule is based on that. It’s not possible for me to partner only one player for the full year, considering that they might opt to play in tournaments that suit them for doubles.

Mahesh Bhupathi says you will be his partner for the next Grand Slam tournament. How is your equation with him?
I get along wonderfully well with Mahesh, on and off the court, and we hope to continue to play mixed doubles together in the Grand Slams.

Your injury has kept you away for some time. Has the break made you start afresh? How did you keep yourself busy then?
I guess you do tend to be hungry for success when you haven’t played for a while, but I think that I did achieve a good amount of success even before my injury. During the break, I worked hard on my fitness and game.

Who has been the best coach you have worked with and why?
I’ve had the good fortune of working with some great coaches and each one has added a new dimension to my game.

Tennis is said to be a mental game. Has the game helped you mature?
I’ve definitely matured, both professionally and personally, since I first got into the game.

Have you added more shots to your repertoire? You seem to have developed your backhand shots into powerful ones apart from the already existing strong forehand?
Yes, one has to constantly keep working on one’s strengths and keep improving on one’s weaknesses all through one’s career to survive at the highest level.

So will it be Grand Slams or WTA tournaments for you?
Playing in a Grand Slam is every upcoming tennis player’s dream and the Grand Slams are what the professional players play for. However, to enter a Grand Slam, one has to work one’s way up through the WTA events.

How do you cope with so much media attention? Does it unnerve you?
It goes with the territory and one has to take it in one’s stride.

How serious is the threat of injuries to you?
In international tennis, one has to push one’s body to the limit and injuries are bound to happen. Every professional tennis player runs the risk of injuries.

Do you ever think that you could have done better had you been born in Europe or US?
It’s a hypothetical situation. I’m just proud to have achieved whatever I have by being in my own country.

Brand Sania seems to be on a high. How do you feel?
The highs or lows of Brand Sania are not my concern. My agents take care of that. My job is to give my best on the tennis courts.

Your take on being the most-photographed sports star in India…
That’s not something that I’ve worked for and it doesn’t really excite me.