She was a sensation in her prime, but recurring injuries and niggles did not allow Sania Mirza to continue her singles career with much success.
Surgeries to wrist, hip and knee have affected her momentum forcing her to take up doubles to prolong her pro career. Despite reasonable success thereafter, the 26-year-old still nurtures hopes of returning to singles play before she hangs up her racquet.
“Do I miss singles? I miss it terribly and I still not rule it out. I need to work on my fitness. I am a singles player and want to try and comeback one day when my body allows it,” said Sania on the sidelines of a photo shoot.
Sania, whose last appearance in singles was on grass in Eastborune 2012, where she failed to qualify for the main round, said she had to take tough decisions. “I could not continue playing singles as my body was not allowing it after having three surgeries in five years. Sometimes you need to take tough decisions.”
Partnering Liezel Huber, Sania lost in round of 16 at Wimbledon this year but said there was nothing wrong with the surface which was criticised heavily as many players slipped and fell. “I did not feel anything different to be honest. People were talking about it all the time as we saw many players falling.”
Sania, who has a 2-0 head to head record against Marion Bartoli, the Wimbledon champion defended the French champion’s quirky sense of style.
“Tennis is the most important thing. If you look nice that’s great and Marion is a beautiful girl. You need not look stunning but display good tennis to win.”
She backed Bartoli’s unorthodox game. “I have never lost to her. She has always done things differently all her career. It proves you don’t have to follow norms all the time. You need to do what suits you. She has done everything opposite to what everyone is doing and is a Wimbledon champion.”
With the US Open, the season’s final Grand Slam set to begin next month, she wants to repeat her singles heroics when she reached the fourth round in 2005.