Ace Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has become the first woman tennis player from the country to be top-seeded in this year’s ongoing Wimbledon championships.
“It’s a great honour to be the top seed in what is considered to be the ‘home of tennis’,” said Sania, ahead of second round match against Date-Krumm and Schiavone.
Sania and her partner at Wimbledon, veteran Martina Hingis, beat Diyas and Zheng 6-2, 6-2 to progress.
The 28-year-old Sania, who is playing in her 15th year at the Wimbledon, is in fact the first Indian woman to achieve the feat in any Grand Slam competition.
The only other Indians getting the top draw in a Grand Slam earlier were Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the 1999 French Open men’s doubles competition.
Sania, who is married to Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, won her first major title here – the 2003 Wimbledon Championships Girls’ Doubles, partnering Alisa Kleybanova.
Getting the No. 1 seeding means that Sania is now a member of the elite ‘Last-four Club’ in Wimbledon that makes her entitled to certain lifetime privileges, including use of a special locker, etc.
Saina’s father, Mr. Imran Mirza, said it’s a proud moment and is an acknowledgement for her daughter’s consistent performances.
“It’s a proud moment and is an official acknowledgement of Sania’s sustained, consistent performances at the highest level,” Imran Mirza was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
“No matter how many times you’ve been here, it is still really exciting. I have several beautiful memories associated with the ‘BIG W’,” he added.
Sania, who is a three-time Grand Slam winner in the mixed doubles of the Australian, French and the US Opens, aims for a career Grand Slam.
“As a kid, you always think and dream about playing Wimbledon one day. Even though all the Grand Slams are equal, Wimbledon is special and it has its own charm because of the green grass and the white clothes and the strawberries and cream.
“I feel really blessed to have been able to play there and perform there,” Sania the quoted as saying by Wimbledon’s official website.