Sania Mirza dedicates US Open win to India
The victory of any Indian sportsperson on an international forum calls for celebration in the country. But Sania Mirza's recent win in the US Open mixed doubles is an especially sweet achievement for her many fans and supporters as well as for the nation. The victory comes on the heels of the cheap controversy that erupted after she was appointed the brand ambassador of the newly formed State of Telangana. Petty politicians looking for their 15 seconds of fame on primetime television had questioned her suitability for the role, as she is married to a Pakistani cricketer. That she is also a native of Hyderabad, the new capital of Telangana, and more importantly, has on several occasions made the country proud on the global stage, did not seem to matter. She was tagged a ‘daughter-in-law of Pakistan’ and, in the process, her loyalty to India was unfairly brought under the scanner. Sure, the tennis star's many fans and all right- thinking Indians who do not confuse their love for the country with hatred for a rival nation, stood up for her during the controversy, but, according to Ms Mirza’s own account, it was nonetheless an emotional strain and a trying time for her — both professionally and personally. Weeks later, by not just making India proud by her spectacular win but also dedicating her victory to the country and particularly to her home State of Telangana, Ms Mirza has had her sweet revenge. Those who ridiculed her only weeks ago have been silenced.
Besides, this is not the first time that Ms Mirza's loyalty to the country, that she has served so well, has been questioned by vested interests. For instance, a mischievous photograph taken during the 2008 Hopman Cup, wherein it seemed like the Indian flag was resting at her foot, had raised the hackles of many pseudo-nationalists. Similarly, photographs of her without the Indian flag during the 2012 london Olympics had also caused a stir. But each time Ms Mirza managed to rise above the negativity and falsehood, and come back a better player that proudly bears the Tricolour.
The 2014 US Open win is no different in this regard. It came after a series of disappointments that eventually forced Ms Mirza to break her partnership with Romanian player Horea Tecau and tie up with Brazil's Bruno Soares. The untested partnership was a gamble indeed, but it worked brilliantly. The duo had five championship points after sailing to a comfortable 9-4 lead; however, a series of errors in the match tie-break suddenly created a crunch situation. The game could have turned against them as their opponents, Abigail Spears and Santiago Gonzalez, made quick progress, but Ms Mirza and Mr Soares held their nerves and made it through the last mile. This is the third Grand Slam win for the Indian tennis star, who also finished as a winner at the Australian Open in 2009 and the French Open in 2012, and is the only female Indian player to have won these prestigious titles.