Sania Mirza, a renowned Indian tennis player, has achieved remarkable success on and off the court. Her career is marked not only by impressive wins but also by significant cultural impact and various controversies.
Wiki/Biography
Sania Mirza was born on November 15, 1986, in Mumbai, India. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. At just four years old, her family moved to the US, returning to India two years later. She grew up in Hyderabad with her sister. Sania attended Nasr School and St. Mary’s College for her education, achieving a first division in her SSC exams with 63% marks. Her tennis journey began at the age of six, initially coached by her father, Imran Mirza, before moving to the Nizam Club Hyderabad and later the Ace Tennis Academy in the United States. She excelled as a junior player, winning 10 singles and 13 doubles titles. In 2008, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from MGR Educational and Research Institute.
Physical Appearance
- Height (approx.): 5’8″
- Hair Colour: Dark Brown
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family, Caste & Husband
Sania Mirza comes from a Sunni Muslim family. Her father, Imran Mirza, was a sports journalist and later a businessman. Her mother is Nasima Mirza, and she has a younger sister, Anam Mirza, a fashion entrepreneur.
She was previously engaged to Sohrab Mirza, but the engagement ended. Later, she married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. They have a son, Izhaan Mirza Malik, born in October 2018. In January 2024, their marriage ended, with Sania initiating a divorce.
Career
Mirza started her professional tennis career in 2003. She faced and defeated several notable players in her singles career, including Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, and Martina Hingis. Her doubles partnership with Alisa Kleybanova resulted in a Wimbledon Championships Girls’ Doubles title in 2003. A wrist injury later led her to focus on doubles, where she achieved significant success.
Her Grand Slam wins include the 2009 Australian Open (with Mahesh Bhupathi), and further Grand Slam victories at the French Open and US Open. In total, she boasts 6 Grand Slam titles. She also achieved the #1 WTA ranking in women’s doubles and partnered with Martina Hingis to win the Wimbledon Championships in 2015. Her career also includes 14 medals from major sporting events, with 6 of them being gold.
Mirza’s contributions extend beyond the court. She became the first South Asian woman to be a UN Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia (2013) and served as a brand ambassador for Telangana State. She retired from professional tennis in 2023.
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Wimbledon Championships Girls’ Doubles title (with Alisa Kleybanova) |
| 2009 | Australian Open (with Mahesh Bhupathi) |
| 2015 | Wimbledon Championships (with Martina Hingis), #1 WTA Doubles Ranking |
| 2023 | Retirement from professional tennis |
Controversies
Throughout her career, Sania Mirza faced several controversies. These included accusations of refusing to play with an Israeli player due to potential backlash, a case related to disrespecting the national flag, and media attention surrounding her personal life.
Awards & Honours
- Arjuna Award (2004)
- WTA Newcomer of the Year (2005)
- Padma Shri (2006)
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2015)
- Padma Bhushan (2016)
- Fed Cup Heart Award (2020)
Net Worth
Her net worth is estimated to be $8 million.
Signature, Car Collection, Favourites & Facts
Sania Mirza’s signature is widely known. Her car collection includes prestigious brands like a Toyota Supra, BMW, Porsche, and Range Rover. She enjoys Hyderabadi Biryani and is a fan of various Bollywood actors and actresses and Tennis Players like Roger Federer and Martina Hingis. She also enjoys swimming and travelling, has a fondness for cats, and is known for her love of movies.
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