Date:12/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/12/stories/2005021214040500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Sania serves a stunner

By V. V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, FEB.11. Hyderabadis are in a mood to shut out tomorrow and they refuse to entertain any predications. For they were overjoyed at the fare dished out on the Centre Court at the SAAP Tennis Complex by teenage sensation Sania Mirza. She became the first Indian to enter any WTA final with her stunning performance against last year's runner-up Maria Kirilenko in the semi-finals today.

In top 100

And more importantly, she is assured of cracking into the top 100. For entering the finals, she will collect 67 points on the WTA Tour. This means she will jump from her ranking of 131 before the start of the Hyderabad Open to No. 95. And mind you, if she pulls off the incredible tomorrow morning she will pick up 69 points.

When 18-year-old Sania threw the racket in delight after wrapping up the semi-final today, the immense relief on her face said it all. She was just longing for this hour of reckoning.

"I just wish my ankles will bear the strain for one more day. This morning when I got up, I had a sore thigh. It required some treatment. But, luckily it was okay and I felt fit," remarked Sania.

Crowd's darling

The standing ovation from the crowd that gathered at the venue hours before the final was a testimony to her growing reputation. Certainly, Sania is in the mood to script a fabulous chapter in Indian women's tennis.

Chants of `come on Sania" are sure to reverberate the venue tomorrow afternoon when the queen of Indian tennis will fight it out for the moment of her life - to be crowned champion in the Hyderabad Open. "It is always a special feeling to be out there in the final of any WTA Open. I am overjoyed," she said.

Papa-speak

Her proud father Imran Mirza is keeping his fingers crossed, though he is delighted at Sania crossing the first three hurdles.

"I just hope she will be fit enough to carry on the battle. She had a huge swelling and I am amazed at the way she is battling the injuries and opponents," he said. Well, that is Sania Mirza, God's gift to Indian tennis.