Powerpuff girl

LITTLE more than a decade ago, Indian women8217;s tennis meant watching parabolas being drawn with the ball on court. In those days of the ...

LITTLE more than a decade ago, Indian women8217;s tennis meant watching parabolas being drawn with the ball on court. In those days of the Licence Raj, it seemed powerful, accurate shots were also to be applied for in triplicate, substituted by the lame lob or a serene slice. To see those scorching volleys, those radar-like shots, one tuned in to Doordarshan four times a year. But those years of watching long-haired Swedes, Yank brats and a German child prodigy paid off to the extent that we soon saw our doubles boys picking up silverware across the globe. They taught Indian tennis a valuable lesson: It can be done.

Over the past week, the circle has been completed by the exploits of 18-year-old Sania Mirza. She grew up watching Paes and Bhupathi, a pre-teen slip of a girl just a few inches taller than the net and a shade heavier than her tennis kit, and obsessed with that famous Steffi Graf forehand. Ignoring her reed-like physique and adverse comments from the 8216;8216;experts8217;8217;, Sania focussed on her USP, letting it go when someone dared to place the ball to her right. With the change of century came a change in style in Indian women8217;s or was it girls8217;? tennis: The 8216;moon balls8217; were gone, the ball was being smashed across the net. Suddenly the gulf between what was being played out on home courts and on primetime Grand Slam TV seemed to have narrowed.

SANIA8217;S other big weapon 8212; besides the killer forehand 8212; was the support at home. Her father Imran 8212; whose uncle is Test offie Ghulam Ahmed, a prime architect of India8217;s first Test win at Chepauk in 1951-52 8212; was a Division I cricketer who never made it to the Hyderabad Ranji side; indeed, it may have been the failed cricketer in him that made him push Sania. Regulars on the junior recruit talk about Sania8217;s mother Naseem being the more visible parent around the famous daughter. Between them, the parents made a series of sacrifices to put Sania on the road to meeting Serena at Melbourne.

To cut costs on the domestic tour, Naseem and Imran travelled in their diesel car, hopping from one tournament to another. This way Sania could play more tournaments and, more importantly, avoid the hotel bills. When a slump in her daughter8217;s career provoked widespread criticism of the GenNext tennis girls, Naseem simply said, 8216;8216;Please encourage her.8217;8217;

Away from the family, there8217;s been a lot of support from Paes and Bhupathi. Sania talks of how her net play improved while playing alongside Lee at the Asian Games bronze medal, while Mahesh was virtually her travelling coach. Bhupathi Sr, too, had a big role to play, teaching her about the professional world and introducing Sania to courtcraft beyond her big forehand. Sania once had a very weak second serve and a one-dimensional double-handed backhand; Bhupathi sent her to the US where Sania learnt how, with a flick of wrist, the direction of the stroke could be changed at the last minute.

But the journey is far from over. Having made us believe in the possibilities, Sania has to deliver on the realities. If she does, it could mean an end to India8217;s days of choosing between an American girl in outlandish clothes or one among the many stunning Russians. It could simply be: The pierced nose and, of course, that big forehand.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More