Sania opens tennis school in Edgbaston

Notwithstanding her recent poor shows, Sania Mirza's popularity transcends boundaries.

Notwithstanding her recent poor shows, Sania Mirza's popularity transcends boundaries. The Hyderabadi teenager was the cynosure of all eyes when she declared open a tennis school in Edgbaston.

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Currently in Birmingham to participate in the WTA Tier III DFS Classic, Sania took time off her preparation to open a brand new tennis facility at Harborne Hill School in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Immensely popular in Birmingham, the world number 41 shared her experience with the students of Harborne Hill and Chadvale, a local junior school.

"It is really nice that tennis is catching up all over the world. It is great that they are trying to make tennis one of the main games after cricket or football in England and India. Being a tennis player, I have the responsibility to make the game grow in anyway I can."

"There have been a lot of girls now picking up tennis rackets and saying I want to play tennis. It's nice to know that people look up to and they want to be like you one day," Sania said, while visiting the school.

Andy Wright, Head Teacher of Harborne Hill School said, "It is absolutely brilliant to have Sania Mirza here today to open the courts officially. It is a big lift for the school, the sport and is fantastic for the area."

Sania is slated to kick-off her campaign in the 200,000 dollar event later on Tuesday with a match against Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko. The Indian sounded confident.

"I have hit over the last few days and I definitely like the grass. Whenever I enter a tournament my first aim is to clear the first round. I have a tough first round against Bondarenko who I played two years ago in the final at the Hyderabad WTA Tour tournament, which I won. So it will be interesting."