Sania Mirza is one of the most popular sports personalities in India. As of 2016, she is ranked number 1 in the women’s doubles ranking. She is also one of the highest paid athletes in India. She is also the first South Asian woman ambassador from United Nations.
Early life
Sania was born in Mumbai on November 15, 1986 to Imran Mirza, a realty builder and wife Naseema, who worked for a printing company. Sania spent most of her growing years in Hyderabad. She has a younger sister named Anam. She studied in Nasr School, Hyderabad and then graduated from St. Mary’s College. She was interested in tennis right from a young age. Her father not only supported her but also coached her. She was also coached by Roger Anderson.
Career Rise
Sania who started playing with the tennis racket when she was just six, began playing professionally after 2003. She went on to win 10 singles and 13 doubles as a junior player. Though she retired from singles in 2013, she was deemed as India’s Number 1 player in both the singles and doubles, by Women’s Tennis Association.
During her stint as a singles player, Mirza defeated the likes of former world number 1 Martina Hingis, Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Marion Bartoli and Vera Zyonareva. The reasons she gave up her singles career in 2013 was because of a major wrist injury. She then concentrated on the doubles circuit and swiftly reached the number 1 position.
Sania has won 6 major titles, includes 3 each in women’s doubles and mixed doubles. She won the WTA Finals in 2014 and 2015 teaming with Cara Black and Martina Hingis, respectively. Sania Mirza has won 14 medals which includes 6 gold, at major sporting events including Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Afro-Asian Games.
Playing Style
She is known for her strong groundstrokes and forehead movies. She is also known for her exceptional volleying talent.
Awards
Sania Mirza has won the following awards –
Arjuna Award (2004)
WTA New Comer of the Year (2005)
Padma Shri (2006)[49]
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2015)[50]
Padma Bhushan (2016)
Sania Mirza – husband
The 1. 73 meter tall Sania Mirza is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Mallik, whom she calls her best friend. She was initially engaged in 2009 to her childhood friend and millionaire Sohrab Mirza, but the wedding was cancelled, shortly thereafter.
Sania Mirza – Net Worth
She is the first sports person to cross $1 million in career earnings. Her net worth is more than $6 million. Her Wimbledon prize money was $340,000 while her US Open title win fetched her $ 575,000. Her annual earnings are in excess of $3 million. She charges anywhere between INR 65 to 75 lakh per endorsement.
House and Cars
She stays in a gated bungalow in Filmnagar. She owns many cars including a BMW, Fiat Palio and Porche Carrera and a Mercedes E Series.