Sania Mirza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sania Mirza

Mirza in 2021
Country (sports)	India
Residence	Hyderabad, India
Born	(1986-11-15) 15 November 1986 (age 38) Mumbai, Maharashtra
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Turned pro	February 2003
Retired	February 2023
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
College	St. Mary's College
Prize money	US$ 7,265,246
Singles
Career record	271–161 (62.73%)
Career titles	1
Highest ranking	No. 27 (27 August 2007)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	3R (2005, 2008)
French Open	2R (2007, 2011)
Wimbledon	2R (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009)
US Open	4R (2005)
Other tournaments
Olympic Games	1R (2008)
Doubles
Career record	536–248 (68.37%)
Career titles	43
Highest ranking	No. 1 (13 April 2015)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	W (2016)
French Open	F (2011)
Wimbledon	W (2015)
US Open	W (2015)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour Finals	W (2014, 2015)
Olympic Games	2R (2008)
Mixed doubles
Career titles	3
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	W (2009)
French Open	W (2012)
Wimbledon	SF (2022)
US Open	W (2014)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	SF (2016)
Medal record Representing  India Women's tennis Asian Games Gold 2006 Doha Mixed doubles Gold 2014 Incheon Mixed doubles Silver 2006 Doha Women's singles Silver 2006 Doha Women's team Silver 2010 Guangzhou Mixed doubles Bronze 2002 Busan Mixed doubles Bronze 2010 Guangzhou Women's singles Bronze 2014 Incheon Women's doubles Commonwealth Games Silver 2010 Delhi Women's singles Bronze 2010 Delhi Women's doubles Afro-Asian Games Gold 2003 Hyderabad Women's singles Gold 2003 Hyderabad Women's doubles Gold 2003 Hyderabad Mixed doubles Gold 2003 Hyderabad Women's team

Sania Mirza (born November 15, 1986) is a famous Indian former professional tennis player. She was once the world's number one player in doubles. Sania won six major titles, which are also called Grand Slams. Three of these were in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles.

From 2003 until she stopped playing singles in 2013, she was the top-ranked Indian woman in singles. Sania Mirza is known as one of the most famous and successful athletes in India.

In her singles career, Sania beat many top players. These included Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, and Marion Bartoli. She also defeated former world number ones like Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, and Victoria Azarenka. Sania reached her highest singles ranking of world No. 27 in 2007. However, a serious wrist injury made her focus more on doubles.

Sania Mirza achieved many firsts for Indian women's tennis. She was the first to earn over one million US dollars in prize money. She also won a singles title on the WTA Tour. She was the first Indian woman to win a major title. Sania also qualified for and won the WTA Finals in doubles in 2014 with Cara Black. She defended her title the next year with Martina Hingis. Sania Mirza officially retired from professional tennis in February 2023.

She is one of only two Indian women to win a WTA Tour title. She is also the only one to be ranked in the top 100 for singles. In doubles, Sania won 43 titles. She spent 91 weeks as the world No. 1. In 2005, the WTA named her the Newcomer of the Year. In 2015, she and Martina Hingis were the Doubles Team of the Year. They had an amazing 44-match winning streak, which is one of the longest in tennis history. Sania also won 14 medals, including six gold medals, at big sports events. These events included the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Afro-Asian Games.

Time magazine called Sania Mirza one of the "50 Heroes of Asia" in 2005. In 2010, The Economic Times listed her among "33 women who made India proud." She became the UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia in 2013. In 2016, Time magazine also included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Early Life and Education

Sania Mirza was born on November 15, 1986, in Mumbai, India. Her parents, Imran Mirza and Naseema, were from Hyderabad. Her father was a sports journalist, and her mother worked in a printing business. Soon after she was born, her family moved to Hyderabad. Sania and her younger sister, Anam, grew up there.

Sania started playing tennis when she was six years old. Her father was one of her coaches. She went to Nasr School in Hyderabad. Later, she graduated from St. Mary's College, Hyderabad. In 2008, she also received an honorary degree from a university in Chennai.

Tennis Career Highlights

Starting Out: Junior and Early Professional Years (2001–2003)

Sania Mirza began her professional tennis career in 2003. As a junior player, she won ten singles titles and thirteen doubles titles. A big achievement was winning the 2003 Wimbledon Championships girls' doubles title. She won this with her partner, Alisa Kleybanova.

She started playing on the senior ITF Circuit in 2001. In 2002, she won three straight titles, including one in her hometown, Hyderabad. At just 16 years old, Sania won the women's gold medal in tennis at the 2002 National Games of India. In 2003, she played in her first WTA Tour event in Hyderabad. She also helped India win a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 2002 Asian Games. Sania won four gold medals at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.

Rising Star: WTA Tour and Grand Slam Success (2004–2005)

Sania Mirza meeting the Prime Minister of India in 2005

In 2004, Sania won her first WTA doubles title in Hyderabad with Liezel Huber. She also won six ITF singles titles that year. In 2005, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour singles title. She won the 2005 Hyderabad Open, beating Alona Bondarenko in the final.

At the US Open, Sania became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament. She beat several players before losing to the top seed, Maria Sharapova. Because of her great performance in 2005, the WTA named her the WTA Newcomer of the Year.

Breaking into the Top 30 (2006–2007)

In 2006, Sania Mirza was seeded at the 2006 Australian Open. This was a first for an Indian female player at a Grand Slam. She continued to have strong results. She won doubles titles with Liezel Huber in Bangalore and San Diego. Sania also had three big wins against top-ten players in 2006. These included Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova, and Martina Hingis.

In 2007, Sania had her best singles results. She reached the semifinals in Hobart and Pattaya. She also made it to the final at Stanford. Her highest singles ranking was world No. 27. She won four doubles titles in 2007.

Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Champion (2008–2009)

In 2008, Sania reached the third round of the 2008 Australian Open. She also made it to the final of the mixed doubles event there with Mahesh Bhupathi. However, wrist injuries caused her to miss several tournaments that year.

In 2009, Sania Mirza won her first Grand Slam title. She won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open. She partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi and they defeated Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram in the final. She also reached the singles final at the Pattaya Open.

Focusing on Doubles (2010–2012)

Sania Mirza at the 2010 US Open

Sania faced more wrist injuries in 2010, which affected her singles play. She won a doubles title in Guangzhou with Edina Gallovits. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, she won a silver medal in singles and a bronze in women's doubles. At the 2010 Asian Games, she won a bronze in singles and a silver in mixed doubles.

Mirza at the 2011 French Open, where she reached the finals in doubles alongside Vesnina

In 2011, Sania started a successful doubles partnership with Elena Vesnina. They won their first big title together at Indian Wells. They also won the Charleston Open. A major highlight was reaching the finals of the French Open in women's doubles. This was her first Grand Slam final in women's doubles.

In 2012, Sania reached her third Grand Slam semifinal in women's doubles at the Australian Open. She also reached her fourth Grand Slam semifinal in mixed doubles there. Sania won her second Grand Slam mixed doubles title at the French Open. She and Mahesh Bhupathi won the championship. In October 2012, Sania suggested that prize money for women's tennis in India should be equal to men's. This change was then made for national tournaments.

Becoming a Top 5 Doubles Player (2013–2014)

Sania started 2013 by winning a doubles title in Brisbane with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They also won the Dubai Tennis Championships. Sania then formed a strong partnership with Cara Black. They won titles in Tokyo and Beijing. Sania won five WTA doubles titles in 2013 with different partners.

In 2014, Sania and Cara Black reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Sania also reached the mixed doubles final there with Horia Tecău. They won their first title of the year at the 2014 Portugal Open. Sania won her third mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the US Open with Bruno Soares.

Sania won a gold and a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games. She won gold in mixed doubles with Saketh Myneni. She also won a bronze in women's doubles with Prarthana Thombare. Sania and Cara Black won their biggest title together at the WTA Finals. This was a huge win for them.

Reaching World No. 1 and Grand Slam Wins (2015–2016)

Mirza became World No. 1 in April 2015.

In 2015, Sania started a new partnership with Swiss tennis legend Martina Hingis. They quickly became a very strong team. They won titles at Indian Wells and the Miami Open. They did not lose a single set in Miami.

Mirza and Hingis then won the Family Circle Cup in April 2015. With this win, Sania Mirza became the first Indian woman to be ranked world No. 1 in WTA doubles. She said it was a dream come true.

Mirza won her first women's doubles Grand Slam title with Hingis at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships.

Sania and Hingis won the Wimbledon Championships. This was Sania's first Grand Slam title in women's doubles. They had a tough final match but won in three sets. They continued their winning streak at the US Open, winning their second straight Grand Slam title. They did not lose a set throughout the tournament.

Their amazing winning streak continued through the rest of 2015. They won titles in Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Beijing. They also won the 2015 WTA Finals. Sania and Hingis ended 2015 with a 22-match winning streak. Sania finished the year as the world No. 1.

Mirza on a clay court at the 2016 French Open

In 2016, Sania and Hingis continued their success. They won tournaments in Brisbane and Sydney. They also won the doubles title at the Australian Open. This was Sania's third Grand Slam title in women's doubles. Their incredible 41-match winning streak ended in February 2016.

Later Career and Retirement (2017–2023)

In August 2016, Sania and Martina Hingis decided to stop playing together. Sania then partnered with Barbora Strýcová and won two titles. In 2017, she won a title in Brisbane with Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Sania missed the beginning of the 2018 season due to a knee injury. In April 2018, she announced she was expecting her first child. Her son was born in October 2018.

Sania returned to professional tennis in January 2020 at the Hobart International. She partnered with Nadiia Kichenok and they won the tournament. She played in the 2020 Summer Olympics with Ankita Raina, but they lost in the first round.

In 2022, Sania reached the semifinals at the Qatar Open and the Italian Open. She also reached the third round of the French Open with Lucie Hradecká.

On January 7, 2023, Sania announced she would retire after the Dubai Championships in February. At the Australian Open, she played her last women's doubles match at a major. In mixed doubles, she reached the final with Rohan Bopanna. Her final tournament was the Dubai Championships, where she played with Madison Keys.

Playing Style

Sania Mirza is known for her powerful style of play. She hits the ball very hard, especially with her forehand. She is also good at hitting volleys close to the net. Her strong shots allow her to create many attacking chances. Sania is also good at returning serves. Her main weaknesses were her movement around the court and her second serve. However, injuries later in her career led her to focus more on doubles.

Awards and Recognition

Sania Mirza has received many important awards and honors:

• Arjuna Award (2004)
• WTA Newcomer of the Year (2005)
• Padma Shri (2006)
• Khel Ratna Award (2015)
• BBC list of 100 inspiring women (2015)
• Padma Bhushan (2016)
• NRI of the Year (2016)
• Pinkvilla Style Icons Awards - Super Glam Sports Star of the Year (2023)

In 2014, the government of Telangana state in India made Sania their brand ambassador. She was also named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.

Personal Life

In 2009, Sania Mirza was engaged to Sohrab Mirza, but they later called off the engagement. On April 12, 2010, she married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. They had a traditional wedding ceremony in Hyderabad, India. The couple announced they were expecting their first child in April 2018. Their son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, was born in October 2018. In January 2024, Sania's family announced that she and Shoaib Malik had divorced some months before.

Off the Court Activities

In 2014, Sania Mirza became the brand ambassador for the Indian state of Telangana. She helped promote the new state. Sania has also opened a tennis academy in Hyderabad. Famous tennis players like Cara Black and Martina Navratilova have visited her academy. She was named the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia. She is the first South Asian woman to have this important role.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Performance in Women's Doubles

Grand Slam Performance in Mixed Doubles

Grand Slam Finals

Women's Doubles: 4 (3 Titles, 1 Runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	2011	French Open	Clay	Elena Vesnina	Andrea Hlaváčková Lucie Hradecká	4–6, 3–6
Win	2015	Wimbledon	Grass	Martina Hingis	Ekaterina Makarova Elena Vesnina	5–7, 7–6(4), 7–5
Win	2015	US Open	Hard	Martina Hingis	Casey Dellacqua  Yaroslava Shvedova	6–3, 6–3
Win	2016	Australian Open	Hard	Martina Hingis	Andrea Hlaváčková Lucie Hradecká	7–6(1), 6–3

Mixed Doubles: 8 (3 Titles, 5 Runner-ups)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	2008	Australian Open	Hard	Mahesh Bhupathi	Sun Tiantian Nenad Zimonjić	6–7(4), 4–6
Win	2009	Australian Open	Hard	Mahesh Bhupathi	Nathalie Dechy Andy Ram	6–3, 6–1
Win	2012	French Open	Clay	Mahesh Bhupathi	Klaudia Jans-Ignacik Santiago González	7–6(3), 6–1
Loss	2014	Australian Open	Hard	Horia Tecău	Kristina Mladenovic Daniel Nestor	3–6, 2–6
Win	2014	US Open	Hard	Bruno Soares	Abigail Spears Santiago González	6–1, 2–6, [11–9]
Loss	2016	French Open	Clay	Ivan Dodig	Martina Hingis Leander Paes	6–4, 4–6, [8–10]
Loss	2017	Australian Open	Hard	Ivan Dodig	Abigail Spears Juan Sebastián Cabal	2–6, 4–6
Loss	2023	Australian Open	Hard	Rohan Bopanna	Luisa Stefani Rafael Matos	6–7(2–7), 2–6

Autobiography

In July 2016, Sania Mirza released her autobiography. It is called Ace Against Odds. The book tells the story of her journey to becoming a top tennis player. It also shares some of her memorable moments on and off the court. She talks about the people who helped her grow as a person and an athlete.

See also

In Spanish: Sania Mirza para niños

• Muslim women in sport