The 27-year-old Indian glamour girl Sania Mirza, who partnered veteran Zimbabwean Cara Black won the season finale - the WTA Finals - in Singapore on Sunday. Sania who won the title in her maiden appearance at the event, said: “This title for India, my country. I've always had great support from my family, my parents in particular. My mother (Nasima), who was there with me, has been my lucky charm. My state Telangana has also been very supportive. There are so many emotions going through me right now, it's an amazing feeling and I'm truly grateful.
“I'm not always able to get back to my fans on social networking sites, but their encouragement and support means the world to me. Any tournament I play, whatever the competition, it's always for India,” the Hyderabadi said and added, “the love and support of my fans has been incredible.”
Sania and Black, who ran through their opponents, Taiwan's Hsieh Suwei and Peng Shuai of China the second seeds and defending champions -much like a hot knife through butter, winning 12 straight games, won 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
The soon-to-be 28-year-old, the first Indian woman to clinch this title, shared $500,000 with Black. Sania also became the first Indian, man or woman, in almost four decades to win the season finale. The first and only previous Indian to win the title was Vijay Amritraj in 1977, when he won the men's event alongside American Dick Stockton.
“It's a very special feeling, to be the first Indian in such a long time,” Sania said. “Given that our country has produced a number of great players - Mahesh Bhupathi, Leander Paes, Vijay and Anand Amritraj, Ramesh and Ramanathan Krishnan - this achievement means a lot.”
Singapore was the last tournament together for Sania and Black, as the 35-year-old Zimbabwean is considering a limited schedule next year. The Indian will team up with one of her opponents on Sunday's, Taiwan's Hsieh, next season.
“To finish on a high with Cara is fantastic,” Sania said. “We started our partnership with victories in Tokyo and Beijing (late last year), and we're finishing the same way . In a way, our partnership has come full circle. I would put this win on par with my Grand Slams (three mixed-doubles titles).
“This tournament is tougher than a Grand Slam because you are up against the eight best teams in the world,” Sania said. “In a Grand Slam, you have a chance to play yourself in and you are guaranteed of not meeting a top team until the quarters. Here, you have to be ready right from the word go. We were ready, we got better as the tournament went along, surviving sticky matches. In the semifinals, we saved match points to make the final.”
