Sania Mirza (Indian former tennis player) Biography

The best female tennis player that India has ever produced is Sania Mirza, without a doubt. Throughout her remarkable career, which spanned from 2003 to 2023, Sania Mirza a six-time Grand Slam champion, a four-time Olympian, and a former world No. 1 in doubles scratched new heights for Indian tennis.

Mumbai is the birthplace of Indian tennis player Naia Mirza, who turned pro in 1986. She won six Grand Slam championships and held the top doubles ranking in the world at one point.

Mirza is the most successful female tennis player in Indian history and the highest-paid and most well-known athlete in the nation. She has won numerous firsts in the women’s division and is currently the highest-ranked Indian tennis player in history.

She is one of only two Indian women to be ranked in the top 100 singles and to have won a championship on the WTA Tour. In 2023, she announced her retirement.

Sania Mirza Biography

Sania Mirza	Details
Profession	Tennis Player
Husband	Shoaib Malik
Hometown	Hyderabad India
Birthplace	Mumbai India
Age	36 years as of 2022
Date of Birth	15 November 1986
Height	5 Feet 8 Inches
Notable Work	Grand Slams
Nationality	Indian
Net Worth	$25 Million
Net Worth in Rupees	184 Crores INR
Instagram	@mirzasaniar
Twitter	@MirzaSaniar
Zodiac Sign	Scorpio

Sania Mirza Early Life & Education 

Sania Mirza was born in Mumbai on November 15, 1986, to Imran Mirza, a journalist who covered sports from Hyderabad, and his spouse Naseema, a printing company employee.

Her family relocated to Hyderabad soon after her birth, where she was nurtured in a devout Sunni Muslim household alongside her younger sister Anam. 

She went to Hyderabad’s Nasr School. Later, she received her degree from Hyderabad’s St. Mary’s College. On December 11, 2008, Mirza was also awarded an honorary Doctor of degree by the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute in Chennai.

Sania Mirza Best Matches and Career

Mirza started playing tennis at six, and in 2003, she became a professional. Her father was her trainer. As a junior player, Mirza took home ten singles and thirteen doubles championships. 

She advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 US Open girls’ doubles and the semifinals of the 2003 US Open girls’ doubles, both with Sanaa Bhambri. When Mirza made her debut on the ITF Circuit in April 2001 at the age of 15, she began to demonstrate early success on the senior circuit.

Her performances in the quarterfinals in Pune and the semifinals in New Delhi in 2001 are her highlights. Indian tennis player Sania Mirza, then 16 years old, won three trophies in a row in 2002, including a gold medal in the Indian National Games.

She won a bronze medal from the Asian Games and competed for India in the Fed Cup. Mirza emerged as the inaugural Indian female champion on the WTA Tour.

Tennis

Turned pro	February 2003
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Imran Mirza (her father) and Roger Anderson
Career Titles (Singles)	1WTA, 14 ITF
Career Titles (Doubles)	41 WTA, 4 ITF
Career Titles (Mixed Doubles)	3
Highest Ranking (Singles)	No. 27 (27 August 2007)
Highest Ranking (Doubles)	No.1 (13 April 2015)

Junior ITF Circuit

Sania Mirza started playing tennis when she was six years old and went pro in 2003. Her father instructed her. As a junior tennis player Mirza won 10 singles titles and 13 doubles titles.

Mirza received a wild card to compete in her debut WTA event at the AP Tourism Hyderabad Open in her birthplace in February 2003. She was defeated by Evie Dominikovic of Australia in a difficult first-round match in three sets. In the mixed doubles competition at the Asian Games in Busan in 2002 she teamed up with Leander Paes to help India earn a bronze medal. Also in 2003 in Hyderabad Mirza won four gold medals at the Afro-Asian Games.

Grand Slam Tournament

At her home competition, the 2004 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open, Mirza participated as a wildcard. In the first round, she fought hard against Nicole Pratt, the eventual champion and fourth seed, but lost in three sets. In the same tournament, she and Liezel Huber won their first-ever WTA doubles championship. Later, she was awarded a wild card to the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Casablanca, Morocco, where she was defeated in the first round by Émilie Loit, the eventual winner. Being the first Indian woman to win a WTA championship, Mirza made history in February when she won the AP Tourism Hyderabad Open in her hometown. She overcame ninth-seeded Alona Bondarenko in the championship match.

She lost to Morigami in the third round of the Acura Classic in August. The Forest Hills Tennis Classic saw Mirza get to her second WTA final before losing to Lucie afáová. At the US Open Mirza became the first Indian woman to advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam competition. She did it by defeating Mashona Washington Maria Elena Camerin and Marion Bartoli. In the Round of 16 she fell to top seed Maria Sharapova. After defeating Vilmarie Castellvi Aiko Nakamura and Vera Zvonareva at the Japan Open Mirza advanced to the semifinals before falling to Tatiana Golovin. Mirza won the WTA Newcomer of the Year award as a result of a great 2005 season.

Sania Mirza began the year by competing in the Moorilla Hobart International doubles event. With Francesca Schiavone they made it all the way to the quarterfinals. She defeated Marta Domachowska in the first round of the 2009 Australian Open before losing to Nadia Petrova the 10th seed in the second round. In doubles she and Vania King were defeated in the opening round. Mirza however won her maiden Grand Slam at the Australian Open in the mixed doubles competition. She won the competition after defeating Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram in the finals with Mahesh Bhupathi.

World’s No.1 Tennis Player and Other Achievements

In the doubles rankings Sania Mirza was rated No. 6 to start the 2015 season. After Cara Black made the decision to play a limited 2015 season she began a new partnership with Hsieh Su-Wei of Chinese Taipei the No. 5 player in the world at the time. Casey Dellacqua and Darija Jurak were defeated by Mirza and Hingis to win the Family Circle Cup doubles title in April 2015. With the victory Mirza became the first Indian to hold the No. 1 spot in the WTA doubles rankings. Mirza and Hingis won the competitions in Brisbane and Sydney to begin their 2016 WTA Tour in Australia. They were the top seeds at the Australian Open and won the doubles championship giving Mirza his third Grand Slam victory.

She made her professional debut at the Hobart International in January 2020 playing alongside Nadiia Kichenok after celebrating her son’s first birthday and taking more than two years off. The newly formed team defeated second seeds Peng Shuai/Zhang Shuai in the tournament final to win it. 

However Mirza’s calf injury caused the team to lose their Australian Open encounter in the opening round. She competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics alongside Ankita Raina but they were defeated in the opening round by Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok of Ukraine. This was Mirza’s third straight first-round defeat.

Sania Mirza wins her first match back on the tennis court after a two-year hiatus due to pregnancy. By defeating the Chinese pair of Zhang Shuai and Peng Shuai the Indian tennis star and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok won the WTA Hobart International trophy. In one hour and 21 minutes Mirza and Kichenok decided the game 6-4 6-4. The Indo-Ukrainian team won USD 13580 in total prize money along with 280 ranking points each.

In 2017 Sania took a hiatus from tennis to give birth to her son Izhaan with her husband and Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Throughout the WTA season in 2018 and 2019 she hasn’t played.

The 33-year-old tennis player and mother are in great shape as she returns to the match victorious. Her 42nd WTA doubles championship triumph is her first since 2007 when she won the Brisbane International trophy with Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States. Sania Shares her love and Devotion for her game on Social Media.

Also Read : Sana Javed (Actress) Biography

Sania Mirza Retirement 

Mirza stated at the end of 2018 that she intended to rejoin the professional tennis circuit in time for the Summer Olympics in 2020.

In January 2020, she rejoined the tour at the Hobart International after spending almost two years away from the professional circuit and celebrating her son’s first birthday.

Mirza made her retirement known on January 7, 2023, following her final competition in February at the Dubai Championships.

She began the season with Anna Danilina, but at the Australian Open and Adelaide International, she was defeated by the top seeds. In mixed doubles, Mirza and Rohan Bopanna made it to the final in Dubai.

Sania Mirza Awards & Achievements 

Details about the Sania Mirza Awards & Achievements are available below.

• Padma Shri: Sania Mirza was honored with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, in 2006. This recognition was a testament to her significant contributions to Indian tennis.
• Arjuna Award: In 2004, Sania received the Arjuna Award, a prestigious Indian sports award, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in tennis.
• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Sania Mirza was conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honor, in 2015. This award acknowledged her exceptional accomplishments and impact on the global tennis stage.
• Grand Slam Titles: Sania Mirza clinched three Grand Slam titles in mixed doubles. She secured victories at the Australian Open and French Open, showcasing her prowess in both singles and doubles formats.
• World No. 1 in Doubles: Sania achieved the World No. 1 ranking in women’s doubles in 2015, a remarkable accomplishment that highlighted her dominance in doubles play.
• Olympic Participation: Representing India in multiple Olympic Games, Sania Mirza showcased her commitment to the country and contributed to the nation’s presence in international tennis competitions.
• UN Women Goodwill Ambassador: Beyond her sporting achievements, Sania Mirza serves as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. Her involvement in philanthropy and advocacy reflects her dedication to making a positive impact off the tennis court.

Sania Mirza’s awards and achievements underscore her excellence as a tennis player and her commitment to using her platform for the betterment of society.

Sania Mirza Net Worth 

Sania Mirza has an astounding $26 million in net worth. In Indian currency, this is equivalent to about Rs. 210 crore, demonstrating her considerable economic achievement as a tennis player.

She has expensive cars like Mercedes Benz, Audi, BMW, and Range Rover, valued at approximately Rs. 3 crore, in addition to an opulent 13 crore mansion in Hyderabad.

Sources of Income:

• Prize Money: Throughout her career, Sania Mirza has garnered substantial prize money from tournaments, both in singles and doubles categories. She is estimated to have earned over Rs. 52 crore solely from her on-field achievements.
• Brand Endorsements: Mirza’s star power has attracted prominent brands like Adidas, Head, Maruti Suzuki, and many more. During her peak, she reportedly charged between Rs. 60 lakh and Rs. 75 lakh per endorsement annually, contributing significantly to her net worth.
• Other Ventures: Apart from tennis and endorsements, Mirza has ventured into entrepreneurship. She launched her own fashion line and a production house, adding another stream of income to her portfolio.

Lifestyle and Assets:

• Mirza enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, owning several properties, including a palatial bungalow in Dubai and a plush apartment in Mumbai.
• Her impressive car collection boasts luxury brands like Range Rover, Mercedes Benz, Audi, and BMW.

Struggles

• The average Indian woman has gradually begun to carve out a place for herself in society as she struggles to balance her dreams and aims with the expectations of fundamentalists who won’t stop pointing their fingers at her whenever she ventures out into the world to conquer it.
• The sense of great grief and pain however that was brought on by her own countrymen’s ongoing disrespect for her accomplishments was hidden by the glittering eyes and smiles. Since Sania Mirza began her professional career in 2003 she has had a string of humiliations.
• Since April 2003 the Hyderabadi has held the top spot in the doubles rankings. However she has frequently been the target of criticism from those who discount her accomplishments and claim that the highly competitive singles circuit is too difficult for her to succeed in.
• Before suffering a career-threatening wrist injury in 2012 that required the 29-year-old to focus only on doubles Mirza had inspired millions of Indian girls with her success in a sport that many lacked the guts to pursue.
• Sania Mirza discovered that she was frequently used as the culprit in the federation’s politics as the cheerful young girl who had been defined by a deep-seated passion for tennis since she was 6 years old faced the harsh reality of being a sportsperson.

Marriage and Family

Sania Mirza proposed to Shoaib Malik in 2009. She wed Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik on April 12 2010 at the Taj Krishna Hotel in Hyderabad India in accordance with Pakistani wedding traditions for a mahr of 6.1 million (US$137 500). They celebrated their Walima at Sialkot Pakistan.

On April 23 2018 the couple posted a social media announcement about their first pregnancy. Izhaan Mirza Malik was born in October 2018 according to an announcement made on Twitter by Shoaib Malik.

Sania Mirza Son

The couple announced their first pregnancy on social media on 23 April 2018 and gave birth to Izhaan Mirza Malik in October 2018.  and named him Izhaan Mirza Malik. 

Boyfriend and Affairs

Shahid Kapoor

Shahid Kapoor confessed to having dated Sania soon after splitting from Kareena Kapoor. According to rumors Shahid is Sania’s first official boyfriend. In five-star hotels Sania and Shahid were seen dancing and hugging. The relationship between sports and Bollywood provided the paparazzi with plenty of material to work with. Sania and Shahid were having a good time together. Sania and Shahid allegedly spent nearly eight hours together on the Kaminay set directed by Vishal Bharadwaj. However Sania Mirza continued to refer to the connection as a “good friend” as she normally does.

Sohrab Mirza

In July Sania was engaged to her childhood friend Sohrab. Six months into their engagement she canceled it due to incompatibility.

Mahesh Bhupati

Though Bhupathi is recognized as her coach rumors that the two tennis aces were closer than just colleagues in the game continued. Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi were a couple that not only created waves on the court but also off of it. Given Mahesh’s separation from his wife the couple consistently attracted a lot of media attention. India completed its best Grand Slam with a decisive victory at the 2009 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Championship in Melbourne riding high on their chemistry.

After Bhupathi was publicly spotted with Sania the relationship reached its height. When it came to Sania’s health and availability for any tournament Mahesh Bhupathi became solely responsible for those decisions in their partnership. Mahesh’s involvement with Sania placed suspicion on her engagement to Sohrab Mirza even before the news of her marriage to Shoaib Malik surfaced.

Controversies

Short Skirt Controversy

Throughout her career Sania received criticism from some Muslim religious organizations for the short tennis attire she wore during matches. Even a Muslim authority had declared that women’s tennis dress was inappropriate for Muslims. Jamiat-ulema-e-Hind later emphasized that they don’t restrict anyone from participating in games.

Threat Call Controversy

Mohammed Ashraf 28 a student of civil engineering was detained in July 2008 for reportedly making threatening phone calls to Sania and causing a disturbance at her home in order to get her to call off her engagement to Sohrab Mirza. She allegedly received threatening text messages and phone calls from the young man who claimed to be in love with her requesting her to call off their engagement. Sania’s father was allegedly in a disagreement with Ashraf when he went to her residence in Banjara Hills and asked him to break off their engagement since he was in love with her.

Marriage Controversy

On July 23 2013 Telangana BJP leader K Laxman referred to Sania as the “daughter-in-law” of Pakistan because she is wed to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. Laxman questioned her eligibility to serve as Telangana’s brand ambassador given the state’s recent creation. Sania went to great lengths to “prove her Indianness” on her social networking site even though no rationale was required declaring that she would remain an Indian “till the end of her life.” I am married to Mr. Shoaib Malik a Pakistani man she said. I identify as an Indian and will do so until the end of my days. (@MirzaSania) Sania Mirza. She is Happy in her Married life and shares cute moments with her family. She loves her nation and her family. She tweeted a cute video of her husband sharing depicting fun time.

Ration Card Controversy

This controversy was very amusing. Sania’s picture could be seen on the white ration card which entitles a family to rice at a heavily discounted rate of Rs 2 per kilogram as well as social security benefits health insurance and a fixed residence. Laxmi of the district of Vizianagaram received this card.

Interesting facts

• The first Indian woman to win a Women’s Doubles Grand Slam is Sania Mirza. She has won three Women Doubles Grand Slams with Martina Hingis as her partner.
• She won the US Open in 2014 the French Open in 2012 and the Australian Open in 2009.
• At age 12 Sania began exercising with her father. In an effort to fulfill his daughter’s wishes Imran Mirza almost put his journalism career at risk.
• The First Indian woman to win a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) championship is Sania. 
• Sania won 10 singles titles and 13 doubles titles as a junior tennis player at the beginning of her career.
• Sania Mirza is the first woman to hold the position of UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia.

Latest News in 2024

‘Sharam aani chahiye’: Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed flirt with each other in old viral video, Sania Mirza fans react

Shoaib Malik grabbed headlines when he announced his third marriage to Pakistani actress Sana Javed on Instagram. After this, the news of his divorce from wife Sania Mirza circulated. Reports suggest that Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik separated a few months ago, with Sania initiating the divorce (Khula).

The Pakistani cricketer is facing criticism for reportedly having an extramarital affair with Sana Javed, whom he has now married. An old video of them from 2021 is going viral on the internet, showing the couple appearing on a Pakistani show and seemingly flirting with each other, further fueling speculation about their extramarital relationship.

The video shows Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed engaging in flirtatious behavior, despite being married to their respective spouses. The internet is reacting strongly, criticizing both Shoaib and Sana for allegedly cheating on their partners. Many comments suggest widespread support for Sania Mirza in Pakistan, emphasizing disapproval for the reported extramarital affair between Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed.

Sania Mirza has chosen to maintain a dignified silence regarding her divorce. Her family released a statement, urging privacy and emphasizing her focus on work. Despite the challenging situation, fans are praising her for handling the matter with grace. In the statement, Sania not only confirmed the divorce but also extended good wishes to Shoaib for his future endeavors. Known for keeping her personal life private, Sania’s family requested fans and well-wishers to avoid speculation and respect her need for privacy during this sensitive time

. The statement reads, “Sania has always kept her personal life away from the public eye. However, today the need has arisen for her to share that Shoaib and she have been divorced for a few months now. She wishes Shoaib well for his new journey ahead! At this sensitive period of her life, we would like to request all fans and well-wishers to refrain from indulging in any speculation and to respect her need for privacy. The Mirza Family & Team Sania”.