Happy Birthday Sania Mirza: Lesser-known stories of the tennis legend from her audiobook ‘Ace Against Odds’

As Sania Mirza turns 38 today (November 15, 2024), let’s take a look at the journey of one of India's most celebrated tennis players. From her early days when her capabilities were questioned to her historic victories on the international stage, she has consistently defied expectations. Her immense contribution to the game also put India on the global map for women’s tennis and her career is a testament to her resilience, perseverance and talent. This excerpt from her audiobook 'Ace Against Odds', which is available on Audible, explores some of her most memorable triumphs and challenges from her career. Read excerpts shared by Audible:
1. On beating one of the greatest champions, Martina Hingis
In the audiobook, Sania shares how her family friends would taunt her parents during her early days, ‘What do you think you are doing? Producing another Martina Hingis?’ In 2006, Sania played and lost to the legend, despite being in good form. “Sania can never be a match for Martina Hingis” was the general consensus of Indian experts, Sania recalls. In less than a week after this match, Sania proved her mettle. She says, “27 September 2006 turned out to be a very special day as I emerged triumphant with a sweet 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 win against the same Martina Hingis who the experts had believed I was incapable of beating.”
2. On controversies as a consequence of fame
Sania recalls a time she was pulled into a controversy. “Suddenly, out of nowhere, we were asked for our opinion on the views expressed by actress Khushboo on pre-marital sex… I, on my part, probably due to my inexperience, did not distance myself enough from her comments. I do remember stressing the importance of ‘safe sex’ though I probably did not specifically clarify that I meant ‘marital sex’. Perhaps it was my choice of words that misled some of the journalists.” She was extremely concerned about how her family would react to the situation that had gotten out of control. “The front page headline in one national newspaper screamed, ‘SANIA SUPPORTS PRE-MARITAL SEX’. It gave me the shock of my life!”

3. On breaking down from exhaustion
Fame brought her many sponsorship deals, hours on TV channels and pages in the newspaper. But with this came emotional and physical exhaustion. Elaborating on this, Sania shares, “In that moment I felt as though I’d had enough. I just couldn’t take it anymore. I started bawling, crying my eyes out like a child. I was tired. I wanted a few minutes alone without having to make small talk with strangers or answering a journalist’s question or looking into a camera… I had not slept properly in days. Finally, when I had wept the exhaustion out of me, I felt better again. I knew I could not let the photographer wait any longer… I collected myself and went downstairs. When I finished the shoot, I was rather pleased with the results… A few days later, that picture of me adorned a full page of Times magazine which did a special cover story for me. I had been chosen as one of the Asian heroes of 2005.”
4. On the greatest singles tennis match of her career
“If I were to pick the greatest singles tennis match of my life, it would have to be the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Championship in March 2005.” Despite a twisted ankle, Sania was determined to take on the reigning US Open Champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova. In the middle of the game, Sania tripped and rolled over the already injured ankle. “I don’t think you should play, Sania,” said her physiotherapist. Just as Sania was thinking of throwing in the towel, her parents called out from the stands “See if you can finish the set before you let go, Sania!’ Those words gave her renewed determination and she was back on court. As the painkillers started to kick in, Sania surprised the crowd with her unbelievable strokes and scored her first-ever top-10 win. “After having been down 0-4 when I twisted my ankle, I dropped just two more games to run away with a stupendous 6-4, 6-2 victory against one of the greatest players of my era.”
5. On the game that challenged her the most mentally
The stadium reverberated as the crowd pinned all their expectations on Sania at the Women’s Tennis Association final, being played in Hyderabad, her hometown. Not only was this important for her because of the title but it was also special because she was playing on her home ground. Sharing more details of the match, she says, “Aloyna (her opponent) missed a return off my second serve and I fell to the ground, bursting with joy… I had won my first WTA title… A few moments later, I realized the umpire had still not called it ‘game, set and match’... he was calling for a reserve.” The stadium came to a standstill as they gasped in disbelief. “It was one of the toughest things I had ever had to do… In my head, I had to win it twice over.” However, the legendary Sania Mirza finished the game to claim her cherished victory on her home soil just as the stadium erupted in joy celebrating their icon!