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Serena backs Sania to shine
RIO DE JANEIRO: World tennis’s standalone women’s star Serena Williams of the United States says Indian doubles specialist Sania Mirza has the ability to turn on
RIO DE JANEIRO: World tennis’s standalone women’s star Serena Williams of the United States says Indian doubles specialist Sania Mirza has the ability to turn on the magic in the company of any partner.
Serena, the winner of four Olympic gold medals, says Mirza could make it to the podium in this Olympic Games if she finds her touch in the tennis competition that gets underway on Saturday.
Mirza is currently the highest-ranked woman doubles player, having stamped her authority in Grand Slams and other top-notch tournaments.
Mirza’s partnership with Martina Hingis of Switzerland is the feature of women’s doubles in contemporary tennis, while she has also formed a formidable recent partnership with Croatian player Ivan Dodig in mixed doubles.
“She’s a great doubles player who knows how to win Grand Slam titles. She’s had a wonderful career as a singles player too,” said Serena, asserting that it was always special to play in the Olympics.
Serena said Mirza would be a formidable challenger, even if she would go into the doubles competition at the Olympics with new partners.
“Sania can be with any partner and she will do a wonderful job,” said Serena, whose sister and women’s doubles partner Venus Williams called the Olympics a “surreal experience”.
Mirza will pair up with Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles — where they are very highly rated — and will step into the women’s doubles competition with Prarthana Thombare.
