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| September 4, 2005 | Sunday | Rajab 29, 1426 |
Sania ready for Sharapova challenge
NEW YORK, Sept 3: Indian sensation Sania Mirza says she will not be cowed by the prospect of taking on top seed Maria Sharapova in the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday. Though both may be 18 years old, the similarities end there.
Sharapova is already the world’s top earning sportswoman with a Wimbledon title to her name, a week spent as world No.1, a perfume named after her, and worldwide celebrity.
Sania is playing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam event for the first time is ranked 42nd in the world and although a star in her own homeland little-known outside.
But after her straight sets win over Marion Bartoli of France in the third round, Sania insisted that she would not just be canon-fodder for the big-hitting Russian.
“I’ve seen her around since the juniors and here of course, but I never played her or met her,” she said.
“I think we both hit the ball pretty hard, so that’s one similarity I see. The others, I think we should wait and watch.”
Though treading new ground, Hyderabad’s heroine is no stranger to playing the big names.
She made it through to the third round of the Australian Open in January and gave a good account of herself before falling to eventual winner Serena Williams.
And since then she has won her first WTA title in her home city, was runner up recently at Forest Hills and reached the quarterfinals in Dubai and Cincinnati.
Her story has made headlines worldwide as a potential role model for Moslem women - a devout believer, but someone who sports a diamond-studded nose ring, wears mini skirts and oozes star-in-the making potential.
Asked to comment on her views outside of tennis, Sania bristles.
“I’m 18 years old. Give me a break. I’m just trying to have some fun here,” she said.
Against Sharapova, who has lost just nine games in three rounds, Sania knows that she will have to stick to her go-for-bust game plan that resulted in 45 winners against 49 unforced errors in two sets against Bartoli.
“I have nothing to lose against her,” she said. “There’s obviously no pressure on me. I don’t think a lot of people expect me to win,” she said.
Sharapova insisted that she would not be taking lightly the challenge from Sania.
The Russian’s preparations for Flushing Meadows were hampered by a strained muscle in her chest and in the three matches she has played to date she has not needed to overtax herself notably on her service.
Against Sania, things could be different.
“It’s going to be another tough one. I haven’t really seen much of how she plays. I heard she’s got a big and powerful game. It’s hard to predict things, but I’m sure it’s going to be a good match.”—AFP
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