Football
Reuters 18y

Tennis-India teenager Mirza weighed down by expectations

MUMBAI, Sept 14 - Indian teenager Sania Mirza is
being hampered by the high expectations of her compatriots a
year after being hailed as the nation's glowing tennis prospect.

The 19-year-old Mirza enjoyed a breakthrough 2005 when she
became the first Indian to crack the top-50 in the women's
tennis rankings, but a disappointing run this season has pulled
her down to 70.

"You know, how much ever I say I can block it out, it is
very hard," she said about the pressure and criticism she faces,
while talking at a promotional event on Thursday for next week's
WTA event in Kolkata.

"Every time I switch on the TV there are shows about me ...
people have programmes about how bad I am doing. It is hard but
I have to deal with it."

Mirza surmounted religious barriers to surge from 206th in
the women's world rankings in 2004 to a career high 31 in
October last year. She also became the first Indian woman to
reach the fourth round of a grand slam tournament at the U.S.
Open before succumbing to Russia's Maria Sharapova.

"I had a phenomenal year last year, and I don't think it is
humanly possible to repeat that year after year," said Mirza,
who will be teaming up with Leander Paes in mixed doubles in
this year's Asian Games in Doha.

"I think we all should be prepared for me to be playing
losing matches and winning matches and having a bad year and
maybe next year have another phenomenal year."

Mirza reached the quarter-final stage in singles in only two
tournaments this year and her ranking dropped to 70.

"I don't think that I've had the worst year. I didn't get
enough wins that I wanted, but the year is not over yet," said
Mirza, who suffered a back and wrist injury in May.

"But in doubles I think I've had a notable year. I'm among
the top 30 in the world."

"I'm an optimistic person and like to look at things
optimistically. I've learned a lot, worked on a lot of my
weaknesses. I've had some injuries. That's just how it is."

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