By Jilawatan

Sania Mirza, who is on a comeback trail after a break of almost six months in 2010, is candid enough to admit that she is not comfortable on clay courts but at the same time she is eagerly looking forward to the coming battles.

“I am delighted to be on the verge of playing my 23rd Grand Slam singles event in the French Open and I am keen to improve my record there,” said Sania, in an email interaction from Rome, ahead of the event which she missed last year because of an injury.

“However, I don’t think the clay surface will have a negative impact on my doubles competitions in the French Open,” she said.

“Probably, winning the Premier Mandatory doubles tournament in Indian Wells was just what the doctor prescribed ahead of this Grand Slam,” she added.

Looking back at the season so far, Sania said the fact that she moved up 100 places in singles rankings since last December, and also won two important titles, was by itself a creditable achievement.

“It has been a truly remarkable year so far and I just hope to have a good run,” she added.

Sania said that she makes it a point to strike the right balance between singles and doubles competitions.

Referring to her husband and former Pakistan cricketer, Shoaib Malik, Sania said that both of them understood what an international sportsperson requires at this level in terms of professionalism and pressure factor.

“We are ready to face the challenges and we treat these issues as part and parcel of any athlete’s career,” Sania said.

Referring to Indian women’s tennis in general, Sania felt sad that she could not immediately name any player who could dominate Indian tennis. “Obviously, it will need great efforts to produce a top-50 player right now from India,” she said.

Looking up to Maria Sharapova andd Kim Clijsters as role models, Sania said, “they set new benchmarks for come backs when everyone had virtually written them off. I went through a similar phase only recently and I am really happy to be back in the best frame of mind again.”

“I am grateful to my parents (Imran and Nasima) for all their support when I was down and deemed to be out by many critics. I owe a lot to them and to my husband for my comeback this time around,” she said.