A couple of injuries have forced Sania Mirza to take rest for some time.
The 31-year-old Sania Mirza, the face of women’s tennis in India, is forced to take it easy these days because of a bone spur along with a jumper’s knee. The spur needs surgery and she has been advised three months rest for the knee. She will thus be missing the 2018 Australian Open.
This break will enable Sania to spend time with her family and friends, something which she has not been able to do for quite some years.
It is indisputable that the quest for excellence hasn’t diminished one bit as the six-time Grand Slam winner is waiting for the earliest opportunity to prove a point or two, if needed, about her stature as one of the top players in the women’s tennis circuit.
Remember, she has the phenomenal distinction of being the World No. 1 (in women’s doubles) for 91 weeks — only Martina Navratilova, Cara Black and Liezel Huber have had longer reigns at the top.
In this interview with Sportstar, she shares her thoughts on the game and her life in general.
How do you look back at your life and tennis in general till now?
Frankly, life hasn’t changed much. Definitely, sometimes you might be tempted to think of doing something else. But, again, the passion for the sport and the intense desire to regain the top slot are what keep me going.
It is pretty obvious that nothing else in this world gives me more joy than hitting the tennis ball all over the court. This helps actually to sustain my unbridled, youthful exuberance and passion for the sport.
To be specific, how has the journey been so far?
In sport, as in life, the journey has to go on. You have to keep resetting your goals to be motivated and most importantly enjoy whatever you love. Yes, sometimes, it might be just that difficult as this means a lot of sacrifices.
What is it that you have missed the most?
For instance, I can count on my fingers the number of days my entire family has had dinner at the same time. Looks pretty simple, but these, again, are some of those precious moments and experiences which I miss. But, at the end of day, I have the satisfaction and glory of representing India at the highest level.