Sania Mirza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sania Mirza

Mirza in 2017
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 2014 Incheon Mixed doubles Gold 2006 Doha Mixed doubles Silver 2006 Doha Women's singles Silver 2006 Doha Women's team Silver 2010 Guangzhou Mixed doubles Bronze 2014 Incheon Women's doubles Bronze 2010 Guangzhou Women's singles Bronze 2002 Busan Mixed 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 15 November 1986) is a famous Indian former professional tennis player. She was once the world's No. 1 player in doubles. Sania won six major titles, also known as 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 female player. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranked her. Sania Mirza is known as one of India's most famous and highest-paid athletes.

In singles, Sania beat many top players like Svetlana Kuznetsova and Victoria Azarenka. She reached her highest singles ranking of world No. 27 in 2007. However, a serious wrist injury made her focus more on doubles. Sania was the first Indian woman to earn over US$1 million in prize money. She also won a singles WTA Tour title and a Grand Slam title. She won the WTA Finals in doubles in 2014 and 2015. Sania 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 Indian woman to be ranked in the top 100 in singles. In doubles, Sania won 43 titles and was world No. 1 for 91 weeks. In 2005, the WTA named her the Newcomer of the Year. In 2015, she and her partner Martina Hingis were the Doubles Team of the Year. They had an amazing 44-match winning streak. Sania has also won 14 medals, including six gold, at big sports events. These include the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Afro-Asian Games.

Time magazine named 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 15 November 1986 in Mumbai, India. Her parents, Imran Mirza and Naseema, are Hyderabadi Muslim. Soon after she was born, her family moved to Hyderabad. She grew up there with her younger sister, Anam.

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 Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute in Chennai.

Tennis Career Highlights

Starting Professional Tennis (2001–2003)

Sania Mirza turned professional in 2003. As a junior player, she won ten singles titles and thirteen doubles titles. She won the 2003 Wimbledon Championships girls' doubles title with Alisa Kleybanova.

In 2002, she won three straight titles on the ITF Circuit. One of these was 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 got a special entry to play in her first WTA Tour event in Hyderabad. She also helped India win a bronze medal in mixed doubles at the 2002 Asian Games. She won four gold medals at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games.

Rising in the WTA Tour (2004–2005)

Sania Mirza meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 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 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 players like Marion Bartoli before losing to top seed Maria Sharapova. Because of her great year, Sania was named the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 2005.

Breaking into the Top 30 (2006–2007)

In 2006, Sania was the first Indian female player to be seeded in a Grand Slam at the 2006 Australian Open. She won the doubles title at the Bangalore Open with Liezel Huber. She also beat top-ten players like Svetlana Kuznetsova and Martina Hingis. In December, she won a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2006 Asian Games. She also won two silver medals there.

Sania had a strong start to 2007. She reached her highest singles ranking of world No. 27. She reached the finals at the Stanford tournament and won four doubles titles that year.

Grand Slam Mixed-Doubles Champion (2008–2009)

Sania Mirza at the 2006 US Open

In 2008, Sania reached the mixed doubles final at the 2008 Australian Open with Mahesh Bhupathi. However, wrist injuries caused her to miss several tournaments.

In 2009, Sania won her first Grand Slam title. She and Mahesh Bhupathi won the mixed doubles title at the 2009 Australian Open. They beat Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram in the final. She also reached the singles final at the Pattaya Open and won a doubles title with Chuang Chia-jung.

Focusing on Doubles (2010–2012)

Sania Mirza at the 2010 US Open

Sania continued to face 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 doubles. At the 2010 Asian Games, she won a bronze in singles and a silver in mixed doubles.

In 2011, Sania started a successful doubles partnership with Elena Vesnina. They won titles at Indian Wells and Charleston. They also reached the finals of the French Open in women's doubles. At Wimbledon, they reached the semifinals.

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

In 2012, Sania and Elena Vesnina reached the semifinals of the 2012 Australian Open in women's doubles. Sania also won her second Grand Slam title in mixed doubles at the 2012 French Open. She partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi again. She won another WTA doubles title with Anastasia Rodionova at the Pattaya Open.

Reaching Top 5 in Doubles (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, beating top teams. Sania won five WTA doubles titles in 2013.

In 2014, Sania and Cara Black reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 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 2014 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 and 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.

World No. 1 and More Grand Slams (2015–2016)

Mirza became World No. 1 in April 2015 and was top seed at the 2015 French Open with Martina Hingis

In 2015, Sania started a new partnership with Swiss tennis legend Martina Hingis. They quickly became a very successful team. They won titles at Indian Wells and Miami.

In April 2015, Sania Mirza made history by becoming the first Indian woman to be ranked world No. 1 in WTA doubles. This happened after she and Hingis won the Family Circle Cup title. They had an amazing winning streak.

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

Sania and Hingis won the 2015 Wimbledon Championships, which was Sania's first Grand Slam title in women's doubles. They then won the US Open women's doubles title, making it two Grand Slams in a row. They continued their winning streak, taking titles in Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Beijing. They ended the year by winning the 2015 WTA Finals, remaining undefeated at the year-end tournament. They finished 2015 with 10 WTA titles and a 22-match winning streak.

Mirza on 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 2016 Australian Open doubles title, which was Sania's third Grand Slam in women's doubles. Their incredible 41-match winning streak ended at the Qatar Ladies Open. They reached two more finals on clay courts and won the Internazionali d'Italia.

Later Career and Retirement (2017–2023)

In 2016, Sania and 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. She took a break from tennis in 2018 due to a knee injury and to have her first child.

Sania returned to professional tennis in January 2020 at the Hobart International. She partnered with Nadiia Kichenok and they won the tournament. In 2022, she reached the semifinals at two WTA 1000 events and the third round of the 2022 French Open with Lucie Hradecká.

On 7 January 2023, Sania announced she would retire after the Dubai Championships in February. At the 2023 Australian Open, she reached the mixed doubles final with Rohan Bopanna. This was her last Grand Slam match. She played her final tournament in Dubai with Madison Keys.

Playing Style

Sania Mirza is known for her strong, attacking style of play. She hits the ball very hard, especially with her forehand. She is also very good at hitting volleys close to the net. Her powerful shots allow her to create many angles on the court. Sania has said that her forehand and backhand can match anyone's power. Her main weaknesses were her second serve and her movement around the court. After 2012, injuries led her to focus more on doubles.

Awards and Recognition

Sania Mirza has received many awards for her achievements:

• Arjuna Award (2004)
• WTA Newcomer of the Year (2005)
• Padma Shri (2006)
• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (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 Mirza their brand ambassador. Time magazine included her in its 2016 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Personal Life

Sania with her ex-husband, Shoaib Malik, 2012

In 2010, Sania Mirza married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Their wedding included traditional ceremonies in both India and Pakistan. In October 2018, they welcomed their baby boy, Izhaan Mirza Malik. In January 2024, Sania's family announced that the couple had divorced some months before.

Other Activities

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

Images for kids

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  Mirza in 2017

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  Sania Mirza meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005

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  Sania Mirza at the 2006 US Open

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  Sania Mirza at the 2010 US Open

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  Mirza at the 2011 French Open

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  Mirza practicing at the 2014 Eastbourne International

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  Mirza attained the No. 1 ranking in April 2015

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

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  Mirza on clay court at the 2016 French Open

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  Sania with her ex-husband, Shoaib Malik, 2012