The Hindu : Sport : Sania quells Savchuk's challenge

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Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007
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Sania quells Savchuk's challenge

Nirmal Shekar

With temperatures going past 40 degrees, play had to be suspended on most courts

— PHOTO: AFP

FOCUSSED: Sania Mirza did not let the heat get to her and managed to close the match out in straight sets despite a fightback from Olga Savchuk in the second set.

Melbourne: As a pioneering Indian sportsperson, Sania Mirza has long since learned to handle the heat. For, the weight of unrealistic expectations now sits ever so lightly on her slender shoulders.

A fast learner, the 20-year-old from Hyderabad has dealt with all the pressures with admirable poise and tenacity, steering clear of the nightmares that quite often follow dreams like night following day in the case of young athletes who are turned into role models long before they have settled into their roles.

But, on Tuesday, the only Indian singles player — man or woman — in the top 100 handled the heat (the literal variety) on court rather well in the Australian Open tennis championship. In conditions that might have set a camel in Bikaner off in search of an air-conditioner, Sania saved herself and a few dozen Indian fans the extreme discomfort that a third set might have meant as she battled back late in the second to beat Olga Savchuk from Ukraine 6-3, 7-5 in a first round match.

Not long after Sania made her way to the dressing room, play was suspended on most of the courts as the tournament's Extreme Heat Policy came into effect.

But, then, matches that were in progress at that time — even as temperatures climbed into the high 30s before touching a maximum of 41 degrees — were not stopped and the scalding sun almost claimed a famous victim.

Grim battle

Maria Sharapova, the women's No.1 seed, wilted in the heat and came within two points of becoming the first ever top seed to lose in the first round at Melbourne Park. Her doughty French opponent, Camille Pin, beat a gritty uphill path in the decider, storming back from 0-5 down and a famous victory was within reach when she served for the match in the 14th game and went to 30-15.

However, Sharapova, barely hanging in there, her physical resources diminishing precipitously yet courageously mining the recesses for the last ounce of energy, took control of the match right there before completing a 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 victory in two hours and 51 minutes.

"It is humanly impossible to play three hours in that kind of heat. I don't think our bodies were made to do that," said Sharapova, who had called for the trainer during the match, complaining of pain in her lower abdomen.

It was a good three hours after the match that the U.S. Open champion came in for the mandatory post-match press conference. "I did have to go see the doctor. He had to examine me and make sure I drank a lot and just kind of rested and recovered a little bit," said the Russian.

For Sania, recovery came in quick time after she fell behind in the second set, losing serve in the seventh game with two double faults. In the 10th, the 19-year-old Ukrainian returned the favour with a double fault of her own.

Relieved

"I am certainly glad that it did not go into a third set," said a relieved Sania. "It was very hot out there. During change-overs, you could feel the heat on your legs when sitting down. You are burning." It was here two years ago that Sania was catapulted to instant stardom, coming in on a wild card, winning two rounds and then earning rich compliments from her third round conqueror, Serena Williams.

It has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride since then but the hard yards she's put in under fitness trainer Heath Matthews in the last few months have paid off. India's most celebrated active sportswoman is fitter now than ever before in her career and tactically far more mature on court than during her dream run here in 2005.

Sania's serve is still a handicap at the highest levels but it not as big a weakness now as it used to be. Most of all, her court speed has improved significantly and the moment may be ripe for her to make her charge towards the Top 20 this year although the young woman said she was not looking that far ahead.

"The lesson I learnt from last year is to take it match by match, tournament by tournament," said Sania. "My goal is to stay injury free and play the best tennis I can." What we saw in the match was nowhere near the best tennis that she can play but it would be cruel to judge a player in Tuesday's conditions.

The point is, Sania, world ranked 53, did take control of the match early, breaking Savchuk in the third game and was never under any serious threat of losing to her teenaged opponent.

In a late match, Lleyton Hewitt rallied from two sets down to beat Michael Russel 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

On Monday, Mardy Fish of the United States beat Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, the fourth seed, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4.

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