Sania Mirza: World No. 1 Ranking a Dream Come True

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Given their form coming into the Family Circle Cup, Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis knew they were favourites. The stakes were higher for Sania, who was just a title away from becoming the world’s No. 1 doubles player. But till the job was done, it was difficult to contain the tension and excitement around it.

“I’d be lying if I’d say it’s not playing on my mind. But the idea is to try and block it out as much as possible and take it one match at a time,” said Sania, going into tournament.

The Indo-Swiss pair had to block out a minor comeback attempt from their opponents, Casey Delalacqua and Darija Jurak, before winning their third consecutive title in as many tournaments.

The top seeds won 6-0, 6-4. Sania added 470 points to her tally of 7965, thus going past Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, to become the world’s No. 1 doubles player.

“It’s a dream come true. For me, my family, and my country too,” Sania told NDTV from Charleston after the win.

“It was a bit nervy towards the end of the 2nd set, and we were on match point twice. But that’s tennis, you have to win every point to cross the finish line, nobody gives it to you.”

After a recurring wrist injury threatened to end her career, Sania decided to focus full time on doubles in 2012. “It was a tough call to take, but my body just couldn’t cope any longer.

I had to re-set my goals, and I’m happy I’ve been able to achive that,” Sania told NDTV. “In hindsight, it was definitely a great decision”

Twenty five of Sania’s 26 WTA titles have come in doubles. And 2014 was in a way indicative of what was on its way.

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