Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza (Telugu: సానీయా మీర్జా, Hindi: सानिया मिर्ज़ा, Sāniyā Mirzā; born 15 November 1986, in Bombay) is a professional Indian tennis player, well known for her powerful forehand ground strokes. She is the current Indian No.1 in both singles and doubles and has held this position since 2003. In her career, Mirza has notable wins over Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, Marion Bartoli; former World No. 1s Martina Hingis & Dinara Safina; and current World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.

Mirza is the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India, with a career high ranking of 27 in singles and 7 in doubles. She is the first Indian female player to surpass US$1m in career earnings; first Indian to win a WTA Tour title of any kind; and, by winning the 2009 Australian Open – Mixed Doubles Event, became the third Indian, male or female, to win a Grand Slam title (the first two being Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes). Mirza has also won the 2012 French Open – Mixed Doubles Event (her second Grand Slam title).

Mirza was one named one of the '50 heroes of Asia' by Time in October 2005. In March 2010, The Economic Times named Mirza in the list of the "33 women who made India proud".