Sania Mirza, the 36-year-old Indian tennis star and six-time Grand Slam champion, is a trailblazer who has blazed a trail both on and off the court. Mirza’s remarkable journey has been shaped by a lack of a blueprint to follow and the opinions of others. In an interview with the Olympics.com podcast, she shares that she had to overcome numerous challenges in the early days of her career, such as finding a tennis court to practice on and people to play with.
While there were those celebrating her rise following her on their television boxsets as she took on the world’s best there were those criticising her at every turn, particularly during her late teens and early 20s. It was a sharp lesson for Mirza that she would be scrutinised no matter what she did.
“I was very fortunate to come from a family of two girls who were never treated any different because they were girls. And that’s how we grew up, so we thought that’s the most normal way to be. And then, as you grow older, you see that’s not the case in a lot of households. You are treated differently because you are a girl in some ways. You are allowed to do some things you’re not allowed to do. Society is allowing you to do certain things and not allowing you to do certain things. And so, we were very fortunate to come from also parents who were probably ahead of their times. 30 years ago, they were ahead of their times. When things around you happen is when you actually realise that ‘Oh wow, not a lot of people think like us’; not a lot of people actually believe certain things that we’ve grown up with, which is very normal for us.”, says the six-time Grand Slam tennis champion.
She further added, “Most teenagers don’t want to listen to their parents. Imagine putting that then multiplying that by like a million-fold where the entire world is telling you what to do.”
Looking back on how she managed with the microscopic lens she found herself being studied by, Mirza admits today, she’s not sure how did it. “I do look back and I’m actually quite impressed with myself,” she muses. “How did I not lose it? How did I go into this press conference and not throw the microphone at someone?” Her anchor, in those times, she believes was her commitment to be as true to herself as possible. “I think that what keeps me very stable is the fact that I try when I’m having a conversation with you, I try to be as authentic as possible. I understand that you cannot be so true in front of every single person, but I try and be true to things that matter. I try and put it out there as it is. When I talk to you, and you ask me a question, I try and be as honest as possible because I feel that’s respectful to you and your job as well as what you’re trying to do. And that’s how I’ve lived my life. I can understand why that could offend some people because it’s for a lot of people, black and white is not the way to go. They want you to be in a little bit of grey. They want you to sugar-coat a few things, you know? And I just don’t believe I believe that I will not sugar-coat something that needs to be said. If I feel that I need to say something and if I feel that’s going to make a difference and is going to be heard, then I need to say it, whatever it may be.”
In her retirement, one of the many things that Mirza has been credited with has been the way she has paved the way for other Indian female athletes. It’s something she says she’s often asked about with Mary Kom and PV Sindhu often cited as examples of those that have followed in her footsteps. “Do I think that I played a part in it? I mean, I hope so,” Mirza says. “I tried to be as authentic as possible. I tried to do and say the things that were close to my heart, from my heart and not just as an athlete, but like everything else, too, to help young girls believe that they can be the best in the world, and they can be champions and they can do whatever they want on their own terms. In India or on that side of the world, I tell you honestly, young girls are told more often than not told that they cannot do something rather than they can. The minute a girl says something outside of the box and says, ‘I want to do this’, they’re like, ‘Yeah, but it’s never been done before’. Well, yes. I mean, it doesn’t matter it’s never been done before, you know? Those are the things that women, strong women need to come out in that time, come out and speak about first of all. No matter how many people it annoys, you have to talk about it. That’s why when I see young female athletes who are like eight, 10 years younger than me winning these medals and coming back home, it’s so amazing for me because I feel like they are my own. I feel like I’ve played a part in some way of trying to enable them to in believing that they are meant to be champions.”
Mirza was not deterred by the obstacles she faced, and her hard work and dedication paid off as she became India’s most successful tennis player. Her commitment to authenticity has been her anchor throughout her career, and she believes that being true to oneself is the key to stability. Mirza has never shied away from speaking her mind, even when it has offended some people. She believes that it’s important to say what needs to be said, and she won’t sugarcoat the truth.
Mirza’s journey has inspired many young girls in India, and she hopes to continue to inspire them through her new role as a part of the inaugural Women’s Premier League at Royal Challengers Bangalore cricket club. Mirza’s trailblazing career has shown that anything is possible if one is committed, works hard, and stays true to oneself.
