Sania Mirza

Biography

Sania Mirza, born November 15, 1986, in Mumbai, is a former professional tennis player who changed women's tennis in India with her achievements over a two-decade career. She was the first Indian woman to win a WTA Tour singles title and was the country's highest-ranked female player, reaching World No. 27 in singles in 2007. After a major wrist injury, she turned her focus to doubles, where she became the world’s No. 1 doubles player.

Mirza went to Nasr School and later Osmania University, both in Hyderabad, where she grew up after her family moved from Mumbai. She started her tennis career in 2003 and quickly became India's top female singles player. She won against top-ranked players like Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Vera Zvonareva.

Switching to doubles changed Mirza's career path. She won six Grand Slam titles: three in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. Her partnership with Martina Hingis was especially successful, winning them the WTA Doubles Team of the Year in 2015 and achieving a 44-match winning streak, one of the longest in tennis history. Mirza was the world No. 1 in doubles for 91 weeks and won 43 doubles titles overall.

Beyond her on-court success, Mirza broke significant barriers for Indian women in professional sports. She was the first Indian female tennis player to earn over one million dollars, ultimately earning over 7.2 million dollars. She also won 14 medals, including six golds, at major multi-sport events. The Women's Tennis Association named her Newcomer of the Year in 2005. Mirza married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, and she became one of India's most well-known athletes, influencing social and cultural areas as well. She officially retired from professional tennis in February 2023, ending a career that opened new paths for Indian women in international tennis.