Sania expects tennis to rise a notch in India post Aus Open

Melbourne, Feb 1 (PTI) Basking in her new-found
Australian Open glory, tennis ace Sania Mirza expects Indian
tennis to reach the next level after the slew of excellent
shows in the first Grand Slam of the Year.

A day after Delhi lad Yuki Bhambri won the boys singles
crown, Sania Sunday partnered seasoned pro Mahesh Bhupathi in
mixed doubles and went on to win her first Grand Slam title at
the Melbourne Park.

Bhupathi in fact could have finished with a double crown
but for the narrow loss in the men's doubles final Saturday
and Sania believes the game is poised to reach the next level
in India.

"It is (a very good tournament for Indian tennis.) I
mean, even in the juniors, we had a Grand Slam champion as
well. So, yes, it's been a great two weeks," a beaming Sania
said.

Asked how much impact it would have back home, the
Hyderabadi ace said, "Let's hope a lot. You know, it's
great. I don't remember the last time when we had so many -- I
mean, he (Bhupathi) played the (men's doubles) finals, we won
Sunday, Yuki won. It's been a great two weeks.

"Let's hope a lot more people play, and tennis grows.
It's been growing. It might take it to another level," said
Sania.

Personally, it was nothing short of a dream-come-true
moment, admitted Sania.

"It's always a dream to win a Grand Slam. That's what we
all play for I think when we're younger. It's just great. It
makes it more special because it's with someone that I know
for so long and so well," she said.

"I think it's a feeling that you can't really describe.
You're obviously very happy. It's a dream come true," she
added.

On her partnership with Bhupathi, Sania said, "It's
great. What can you say? We've been playing for I think four
or five slams now. We came very close last year, as well.

"Yeah, we did one better this time. We hope to continue."

Sania and Bhupathi needed less than an hour to tame their
opponents -- Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram -- in straight sets
and the tennis ace said she was rather surprised at the facile
victory.

"I think we both played really well today. Honestly, I
was a little surprised because it was my first final of a
Grand Slam, nerves and everything. But I think we stepped it
up after the first few games, and then suddenly we were on a
roll.

"The last few days I've been feeling like I've been
hitting the ball really well. Yeah, it helps when your partner
helps you out so much, when you make a couple of returns and
he's flying on the net," she said.

Sania was particularly happy with the way her
injury-prone wrist responded to the challenge here.

"The wrist has held up. That's the biggest positive, is
that I played men's players for the last two weeks, and it's
held up," she explained.

Sania held her nerve while serving for the title and said
she never got overwhelmed by the prospect of winning her first
Grand Slam title.

"(while serving) I was trying to block that score out. I
wasn't really looking at the scoreboard and thinking, Oh, it's
5-1, I'm serving for the championship. I was just trying to
serve it out like it was any other game," she said. PTI AY