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Visibly pleased Sania has learnt how to live with criticism

And the year 2007 has been the best for her so far. She reached a career-high world ranking of 27 in August. She seems to have raised the level of her game to new heights.

“This has been a remarkable season for me. At the start of 2007, I was facing a career-threatening, right-knee injury. But then coming back from the three-month lay off and reaching the top 50 is a noteworthy achievement for me,” Sania Mirza recalls.

“Everyone had written me off when I was down with my injury in February. It was mental trauma. Not many expected me to end 2007 with a ranking of around about 30. I am happy with my showing on the WTA Tour. I feel great, not just for playing consistently, but for the high confidence level I have now,” she explains.

Sania, who won one singles and seven doubles titles on the WTA tour, says that her wins against Patty Schnyder and Tatiana Golovin within one week and then Martina Hingis, have been immensely satisfying. For the record, she had a great U.S. hard court season including five wins over players ranked in the top World 20. “Beating any player ranked in the top World 20 or 30 is always a special feeling,” she says.

“Definitely, I am not considered a surprise packet on the WTA tour anymore. Critics tend to watch me closely and I have also learnt how to live with the expectations and the criticism,” Sania says. “Now I am tired mentally and physically after the strenuous schedule of training and competitions,” she said.

Has she set any goals for 2008? “No, I take things as they come. For the time being, I just want to switch off from the sport and start afresh,” says Sania. “You learn every day. At 17, I handled situations which could have made seniors envious. I feel that I am a more complete person now,” she emphasised.

Sania is disappointed at having to cut short her last-leg of the year after pulling her stomach muscle during her quarter-final match against Flavia Pennetta in the Tokyo Open. Originally, the Hyderabadi was aiming to achieve a ranking of around 25 for a direct seeding into the Australian Open.

Visibly pleased at being nominated as an elite ‘Silver Exempt’ player by the WTA for her fine showing this year, Sania is aware of the privileges and also the responsibilities that go with it. “As a strategy for next year, Sania will focus on raising her standards and focussing on Tier I and Tier II events and the four Grand Slams. Also some of the Tier III WTA events including Hobart, Birmingham and Hertogenbosch as an obligation for being conferred with this award,” says Imran, her father.

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