If I were Sania Mirza…

I am sure that all of you, whether sport lovers or tennis fans or even critics of Sania Mirza, think that she is one dejected person today with her career going almost nowhere. If I were Sania Mirza, I would like each one of you to know that – strange though it may sound – nothing is farther from the truth. I can proudly say that I am a happy and contented person. I used to be broken hearted whenever I lost a match. But with age and love I have gained a maturity which enables me to handle success and failure with equanimity.

As you all know, I started playing tennis as a child and with the years, I blossomed as a player. I started my tennis career in 2003 and it was like a joyride. I surpassed my own expectations many a time and was soon in the numbers game setting tougher and tougher targets for myself. I enjoyed the game as well as the fame which my victories brought. With the adulation came criticism.

My tennis exploits were featured on the Sports page while innocent comments and gestures of mine and criticism of my attire graced the first page of newspapers. Appearing in the headlines for the wrong reasons did affect me at first, but I slowly got accustomed to it. Then somehow injuries started plaguing me and they started affecting my play and even participation more and more frequently.

In the midst of all this, I got engaged to a childhood friend, Sohrab Mirza. This thrilled the media. But then doubts arose in our minds over our compatibility as life partners and after much deliberation we decided to call it quits. The media went crazy and started attributing all kinds of reasons for our break-up.

Then Pakistani cricketer, Shoaib Malik walked into my life and my whole world changed. My priorities altered drastically. I saw that life was much more than tennis. We realised that we were made for each other and decided to tie the knot as soon as possible. No sooner that this news leaked, all hell broke loose. Shoaib and I were attacked by all and sundry. I was labeled a traitor for daring to have fallen in love with a Pakistani. Ironically, I had been awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ four years ago.

Shoaib was accused of bigamy. We were both made out to be villains instead of just two people in love. We were shadowed, every move of ours was watched, Shoaib’s passport was confiscated. Our only fault was that we were celebrities. Despite all these impediments, we got married and let me assure you, neither of us have been happier than we are right now.

I am trying hard to play excellent tennis but my injuries are not helping matters. I plan to quit playing in a couple of years. I dream of Shoaib and myself staying in Dubai. Maybe we can run an academy related to our respective sport or take up coaching. That way both of us will be together and we would still be able to indulge in the sport each of us love.

My crashing out in the first round at Wimbledon is sad, but I will try my very best to give the game my best shot and win as many matches as possible before I retire.

Author: Pratibha Shenoy (Bangalore)