Sania Mirza at the Olympics: Story so far
India’s best female tennis player is chasing elusive Olympic glory in her fourth Games at Tokyo 2020
Sania Mirza’s success story has inspired thousands over the years. From Grand Slam glory to becoming No 1 in women’s doubles, the Indian has conquered many a peak. But her Olympic journey has been riddled with disappointment and heartbreak.
Her Olympic debut at Beijing 2008 was cut short in the first round with Mirza having to withdraw due to a wrist injury, while she had to endure the anguish of a fourth-place finish at Rio 2016.
The 34-year-old will hope to change the script as she competes at her fourth Games at Tokyo 2020, which began on July 23.
She will be competing in the women’s doubles event with Ankita Raina. Though Mirza is currently not ranked top-100 in the world, she will use her protected ranking of 9 – from before she took a break due to pregnancy – to enter the elite event.
We look back at Sania Mirza’s story so far at the Olympics:
Beijing 2008
Mirza was ranked in the top-60 in the world going into the Beijing Olympics.
Only 21 at the time and one of the exciting young talents in the world, the Indian was expected to spring a few surprises. But Mirza had to withdraw from her first round in women’s singles, against Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic. She was trailing 1-6, 1-2 when she quit due to a wrist injury.
The Indian later revealed that she battled with depression after the Beijing Games.
“I went into depression for 3-4 months, I remember crying for no reason. I would be absolutely fine and then I would burst into tears. I remember not coming out of my room to even eat a meal for over a month. I felt that I will never be able to play tennis ever again,” the six-time major champion said during an episode of ‘Mind Matters’ earlier this year.
“It's a lot for anybody at any age, but for a 20-year-old to read that you're finished or you are not going to be able to compete at the Olympics ever again. My family helped me see the right direction and I got the help I needed. I happened to win two medals at the Commonwealth Games that happened in India," she added.
Mirza also featured in women’s doubles in Beijing, alongside Sunitha Rao. The Indian pair received a walkover into the second round but were beaten 4-6, 4-6 by top seeds Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina.
London 2012
Controversy preceded India’s tennis entry into the London Games with players unhappy with the partners they were assigned for men’s doubles and mixed doubles entry.
Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi had won the French Open mixed doubles that year and wanted to team up together for the Olympics. But the All India Tennis Association teamed Mirza with 1996 bronze medalist Leander Paes.
Though she reluctantly agreed to play with Paes, the team reached only as far as the second round. They went down 5-7, 6-7 to top seeds and eventual winners Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi.
In the women’s doubles, Mirza and Rushmi Chakravarthi were given a wildcard entry but were ousted in the first round.
Rio 2016
Mirza and Rohan Bopanna narrowly missed a podium finish in mixed doubles at the Rio Olympics.
The Indian pair was in good form going into the semi-finals and almost upset the more experienced pair of Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram. Mirza-Bopanna dominated proceedings to win the first set 6-2.
But midway into the second set, Venus Williams, 36 then, started to outclass everyone else on the court. The five-time major champion led the fightback as the Americans took the second set 6-2 and then the match tie-break 10-3.
Mirza-Bopanna competed for the bronze medal on the very next day. Despite a tough battle in the second set against Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic, they lost 1-6, 5-7.
“The only thing that I think I can achieve or could have done before was win a medal at the Olympics,” Mirza told fellow tennis player Purav Raja during his lockdown show last year. “Losing in the match to go into the final at the Olympics and then losing out for the medal in the semis when we played for bronze (is my biggest disappointment). Two days in a row.”
Going into her fourth Games at Tokyo 2020, Mirza will be hoping for a brighter performance in the Land of the Rising Sun.
When will Sania Mirza be seen at Tokyo 2020?
Sania Mirza and Ankita Raina will take on Nadiia Kichenok and Lyudmyla Kichenok in the first round of women's doubles on July 25.