Hope it inspires a lot of girls: Sania after Wimbledon doubles win | Tennis News - Hindustan Times
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Hope it inspires a lot of girls: Sania after Wimbledon doubles win

Agencies | By, London
Jul 13, 2015 12:36 AM IST

India's tennis queen Sania Mirza created history by becoming the first woman player from the country to win a women's doubles Grand Slam trophy as she clinched the Wimbledon title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis in London.

They jumped in joy and hugged after winning the final point. It was a moment to remember. India's tennis queen Sania Mirza created history by becoming the first woman player from the country to win a women's doubles as she clinched the Wimbledon title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis in London.

Hingis, 34, and 28-year-old Mirza came from a set down and 2-5 behind in the final set to beat Russian duo Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5. It was the top seeds' first Grand Slam title as a team having only decided to play together in March this year.

For Hingis, it was her first Wimbledon title since 1998. Hingis won the Wimbledon doubles with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998.

For Mirza, it was a maiden women's doubles title at a Grand Slam although she has won three mixed doubles at the majors. It came 12 years after she turned Pro.

"To come out here at Wimbledon, this is something we dream of as kids," said Mirza.

"Every kid that picks up a tennis racquet this is about winning Wimbledon or playing at Wimbledon one day.

"When we came out at 5-5 (the play was halted at this juncture) we had goosebumps. The energy on the court, we were getting a standing ovation, it was unbelievable. We both came out and I said, This is what we play for, this is what we work for, this energy."

Mirza praised the support she and Hingis received throughout the tournament and hoped her win will have a positive impact back home in cricket-mad India.

"I hope it inspires a lot of girls and makes them believe they can be Grand Slam champions too," she said.

"I think for me as an Indian, I'm in Little India here. There are so many Indians in England. Thankfully there are a lot of us everywhere. In England especially I've always had amazing support."

Mirza added "it was the best match you could have asked for for the tournament. It was unbelievably exciting. It was exciting to play. I really hope it was exciting to watch."

"Even when we were down, we knew we were giving everything we had on the court. These are the moments we worked years and years and all our lives for. This is what we play for. We feel really honoured to have won," she added.

It was at these historic courts that Mirza had won her women's doubles junior Wimbledon championship with Russian partner Alisa Kleybanova in 2003.

She had come close to winning a women's doubles Major in 2011 when she reached the French Open final with Elena Vesnina, but ended with the runners-up trophy.

Saturday's final came to a pause at 5-5 in the deciding set due to fading light and to allow the Centre Court roof to be closed.

When the players returned, Hingis and Mirza raced through the next two games to take the title.

"It's been another lifetime. Seventeen years, usually you're lucky to win it once or happy to be out here and play on the Wimbledon grounds. It's above my expectations," said Hingis who was also the singles champion at Wimbledon in 1997.

"I have a great partner to pull me through. It takes guts and courage being 5-2 down in the third set. Couldn't have asked for more drama how to win it."

Hingis can be back amongst the silverware on Sunday when she and Leander Paes face Alexander Peya and Timea Babos in the mixed doubles championship match.

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