Sania Mirza and Shahar Peer 2007
Mirza - Peer
Recently engaged Sania Mirza hasn't had a whole lot to get excited about on court this season, her double bagel loss against Pennetta at the US Open, not one which the Indian super-star would care to remember. Yet a great win the other day over in-form Shahar Peer has sparked a little late season revival in Mirza's fortunes.
Seeing a tie between Mirza and Peer emerge so early in the draw of this formerly tier III event, signals how the 'mighty' Mirza and counter-punching Peer currently punch below their weight in ranking terms.
Close friends and doubles partners through the years and across cultural divide, it was at this very tournament four years ago that the Israeli Peer and Muslim Mirza teamed up for the first time. However due to the militant fury that followed, Mirza was forced to put the partnership on ice for some 2 years.
"We've known each other for five or six years. We were playing juniors together and we're about the same age," Mirza said in 2007, "It helps when you're playing with a friend. You know their personality on court and off the court and you know how they're going to react to certain things."
It is maybe this chemistry and insight which acted as the invisible arbitar of Wednesday's match between Peer and Mirza, and the fine result Mirza achieved. But with only a final in Pattaya City, this year in singles hasn't provided much to satisfy the bloated appetite of Mirza's loyal even fanatical global fan following. In doubles it has been a different story - winning the mixed doubles title partnered by Mahesh Bhupathi at this year's Australian Open.
Wimbledon 2009
Peeking over a jam packed court 18 at Wimbledon on the 2nd Monday, I got a feel for the fervent following Mirza attracts, it was the dim of the evening, and it seemed like if you weren't up on Henman Hill watching Murray on the big screen then you were packed into court 18 like sardines.. that was just for a doubles match involving Mirza, but frankly it's a great thing to see. If this is how people of Asian or Muslim origin embrace the sport of tennis when they have a role model like Sania Mirza to identify with, then this is what tennis needs in order to flourish in future. Wimbledon is great, the tradition is great, but sometimes a little shake up, a little innovation and diversity is no bad thing. Yes tennis in many ways is one of the most cosmopolitan and open-minded sports of all, but it is still quite gated in socio-economic terms. Chip on the shoulder is of course not a nice characteristic, yet it's fair to say tennis in the west remains a largely educated or middle class peoples sport, intensely true of class-conscious UK. So the more the sport encourages racial and cultural diversity (Williams sisters case in point), the more it will give access to people from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.
Although from a comfortable background, Sania Mirza still has had to challenge perceptions and stereotypes, "Coming from India, you have no tradition of female tennis players, and people thought I was stupid. However, in India, it's not like every girl has to become a doctor or a lawyer - they can be anything they want, and I knew that this was right."
And rightly, Mirza points out the bottom line is it's all about merit, "As a person, you earn the respect you get by working hard and giving your best, and people appreciate it - being a sportsperson is the same, it makes no difference if you're a man or a woman."
You can see Sania is nobody's pushover, yet still retains that i'm just a nice Indian girl quality. She has faced controversy over the percieved immodesty of her own bog-standard court attire, controversy over supposed disrespect towards the Indian flag, and hassle over playing with an Israeli. But Sania's cool. She's dealt with it all. We should all be glad that Sania Mirza never carried through her threat to quit the sport.
Wimbledon 2005
After some research today, I discovered that it was Wimbledon 2005 that I first seen Mirza play (on tv), That day she lost to Kuznetsova on one of the show courts, but I was really impressed by her fierce some play - she was a sort of proto-Beastie! (this was in the days before the enlightenment you see, two years almost before seeing hero-face). I was like, yeh'man I like all this thing, what is this, it's like MIA with a tennis racquet, galang galang, bang bang, 2nd set, thank you very much. 
That was 2005.. in the days before MIA and Estelle sold out.. least Shystie didn't follow suit.. ahh nostalgia.. what do they say about nostalgia....
Anyway, It was just great to see a young Asian girl playing at Wimbledon. It was unusual, the way she just attacked the whole occasion like a chav to a curry - she was right in there, and unlucky to lose on the day. Great stuff.
Sania Mirza v Marion Bartoli
Two months after this she beat Marion at the US Open in straight sets. Both ranked in the low forties at the time, a match which remains their only head to head. How their respective tennis careers have diverged since that time.
This will be a tough match. The hardest match up Marion has faced so far this week in Osaka. Mirza, always aggressive, vicious forehand, fight to the last point kind of player, always a tough competitor. Marion, instinctively aggressive, running better, backhand stronger shot. Serve better and everything better than 2005.
Kudos at stake for Mirza. Doha at stake for Marion. This is big. Requires Beastie-power!! GO MARION!! CUMMON HERO!! TAKE OUT SANIA.
*quotes; Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Daily Telegraph,
Edited 07:57 10/16/2009
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Marion Say's No To Masters France
Marion is said to have declined to participate in the proposed French Masters tournament for women. The mens version is now in it's 2nd year, and will be held during the off season.
You may recall Marion Bartoli Fan Blog blog cast a slightly sceptical eye when news about the idea reached the blog on July 7. Today we now know Marion's position as regards participation.
In addition, Marion confirmed to French sports daily, L'Equipe, that her sights are firmly on making a reservation for Doha, if not as one of the top 8, then as one of the two alternates. Marion is in 11th place in the Race to Doha, which finishes in 10 days time.
Source: Banoit Melin, Carole Bouchard / RTL L'Equipe
Should win this match. Not surprised at her deciding not to play the French thingy, the mens doesnt seem that popular, Tsonga, Monfils and Gasquet didnt play i think, Gillou was the only big name there. I doubt Momo will be there either so its be very weak.