Sania Mirza Talkasia Transcript

SB: Satinder Bindra
SM: Sania Mirza

BLOCK A

SB: Hello. And welcome to Talk Asia. I'm Satinder Bindra, sitting in for Lorraine Hahn. My guest today is Sania Mirza, Indian tennis star and a woman who carries the sporting hopes of more than a billion Indians.

In a country crazy about cricket, Sania Mirza stands out in more ways than one. She plays a game that is far less popular than cricket, she's a sports-woman and also a youth icon.

At 18, she's the highest-ranked woman tennis player ever from India. She's 42 in the W-T-A rankings and made it to the fourth round of the recently concluded U.S. Open. She's not won a singles title in a Grand Slam tournament yet, but India is now in the grips of Sania Mania.

SB: Sania Mirza joins me now to talk about her game and her growing popularity. How does it feel Sania. There's Sania-mania in India at the moment.

SM: Great, I think people are really excited obviously because they've never had a woman play at this level before. And it's really really nice to know that people are appreciating your efforts. And I think since we come from India where cricket is almost like a religion, I think it's very amazing to see how people are reacting as to a tennis player. And obviously it's very nice.

SB: Sania everybody's talking about the excitement, but I guess only you can tell me about the hard work, right?

SM: I think the whole family can tell you about the hard work. It's been a long way and it's been 13 years, it's been crazy, traveling and first traveling in India, traveling in a car, and going from Tevandrum to Ahmedebad, in a car, and it's been crazy. And even now traveling about 30 weeks a year, all the hard work, playing 365 days a year, 6 hours, 7 hours a day, it's tough to have your focus on. But you know, I guess whoever comes through all that comes out a winner and I'm hoping that I can continue doing what I'm doing.

SB: But you got something out of that. You're the highest ranked India's women's player.

SM: That's not very important for me. What's important is that at least I've made a beginning somewhere. I don't care if whether was the highest, who did it, who's going to do it. I just hope that 5 yers from now or 7 years from now, we have a lot more tennis players out there -- and not only one woman competing, that we have about 6 or 7 women from India competing.

SB: Tell us about your game. Everybody writes about the way in which you love to hit that ball. I watched you at practice this morning. Boy do you whack it.

SM: I've always been taught, even when I was 6, I used to always like to hit the ball when I was 7. I used to lose to like, everyone because sometimes my ball used to just hit the fence. I didn't care, but I loved hitting and I still do. I guess that's just the way I play. And it's fun, and I have fun out there every time I step out on court.

SB: Sania, while hitting the ball hard, you also make unforced errors. So are you going to change your game? Is it going to evolve or are we still going to see the same Sania?

SM: First of all, I don't understand how people expect me to hit the winners that I do and not make any unforced errors on them. So I think I'm human and I think everyone does that. Everyone makes unforced errors. But that's the way I play. And if they love watching me hit those winners, then they have to kind of accept that I do make unforced errors. But I'm going to try to cut them. But it's not as easy as said. There's a lot of hard work that goes into it. I've been playing like this for a long time. It takes time, I'm working on it, but I guess the critics will have to kind of bear with me for a few more months.

SB: I guess what they're saying is you should play more percentage tennis.

SM: I think it's a power game now. And if I start playing percentage tennis, then I don't think I would be Top 40 in the world.

SB: So you're going to continue with your game?

SM: I mean obviously I have to take risks, you have to take risks even if I'm down match point, I like going for a winner, and I've won a lot of matches being down 5-1 in the 3rd set at match point and I've won it. That's just the way I play, and I love it. I enjoy every ball that I hit.

SB: What about those who say your first serve's not quite there and that you need to work on your fitness? Is it criticism that you readily accept or is this unfair?

SM: Of course I accept it. No tennis player is perfect. Even if you're world #1, I don't think, you still have things to improve on, and I'm not even close to that. So I am going to have weaknesses in my game, I am going to have strengths in my game but I still have time to develop a lot of things, hopefully, and we'll see how it goes. But it's just that I think people should appreciate right now what I am doing rather than taking things out of my game and saying she doesn't know how to serve , she doesn't know how to run, so.

SB: Your fans. Are they inspiring you or are they in some ways, now that there are so many of them, now putting pressure on you?

SM: Pressure's always been there. It's just that now every time I step on court there are a billion people watching me play and probably more outside India, and wanting me to win every point, every match that I play. But I guess that's just the way it is. Of course I love all my fans and I love the fact that they appreciate all my efforts and I really really like to have them around me. But it's just humanly not possible to kind of win every match tat I play.

SB: What does it feel like to have a billion plus people rooting for you as you just described?

SM: Unbelievable. I mean, it's something I think everyone can dream of, that so many people praying for you, so many people rooting for you every time, you're just playing the sport.

SB: How hard is the physical grind when you play top level tennis? Or is it just mental?

SM: It's both. Travelling 30 weeks a year, leaving your home, leaving your family. I'm lucky one of my parents always travel with me. But you know, staying away from your country, you know, there are a lot of little things that people don't even think of and it gets to you after awhile. It's mentally draining and you get stressed out. But that's just the way it is. There are a lot of sacrifices that you make to achieve anything in life, not only be what you want to be in a sport like tennis. But I've learnt that you have to face it, I am going to be away from home, physically I am going to be injured -- I think in the past 2 years, I don't remember a day when I woke up and said oh, some thing's not hurting. I have had some pain or other every single day but that's how I've learnt to accept it. That's how my body is going to feel. Even though I'm 18, it feels like much older than 18. But that's just the way it is.

SB: Wait a minute. Are you saying you're physically burnt at 18?

SM: I'm not burnt but I'm injured, and everyone's injured. All the 164 players in the draw in the grand slam, I see them in the physio room, we literally live there! So it's just a question of who stays fitter and I think they'll come out the better player.

SB: What would you like to say to amateur tennis players like myself who watch you? Any guidance?

SM: I don't think I'm old enough or experienced enough to give anyone any guidance. All I would like say is that as long as you're having fun, I think you're doing the right thing.

SB: We have to take a break, but coming up, Sania Mirza's fashion statements and how they gel with her upbringing as a devout Muslim.

BLOCK B

SB: Welcome back to Talk Asia. I'm with India's tennis sensation Sania Mirza. Sania, how does it feel to you when some clergymen issue a fatwa against you because of the way you dress?

SM: I don't think I want to comment on any religion or the way I dress because I just think everyone makes mistakes and that does not mean that I'm not Muslim. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm not justifying, but I don't think I want to comment on anything else.

SB: What you're trying to say is you have your own way, your own style when you walk on the court. Tell us about that. What does it mean to you when you go out on the court dressed the way you feel?

SM: When I go out on court I don't care what I look like. I don't care if I'm out of my bed as long as I win the match, and that's what I'm there for. It doesn't matter what I'm wearing, it doesn't matter what I look, it doesn't matter what my hair feels like. All I feel is the moment I have to play well, give my 100% and win the match. That's what you're there for.

SB: It bothers you Sania does it not, because the way you responded. You feel it's your own personal space and people are intervening there.

SM: I think that's something I've gotten to accept, when you do become a popular figure, people are going to scrutinize everything that you do, everything that you say. They're going to analyze every sentence of yours, and everything that you wear -- you change an earring they're going to know, you change your hairstyle they're going to know, that's just the way it is, you know?

SB: How fair is that Sania, really because, I mean?

SM: Well I'm not the only one in the world, that's how I look at it. That's the amount of respect I have for all the sports persons and all the people in the public eye all the time. It is only, one of the reasons is because, the amount of questions we've been asked about ourselves, about our personal lives, it is, you know, people don't even think or imagine how we feel to be answering questions like that. But that's just the way it is, and there's not much you can do about it, it's not in my control.

SB: Well, I'm going to have to ask you this. You do wear tee shirts that you like. And in fact, once you wore a t-shirt which said that quote: "Polite women don't make history." What were you trying to say?

SM: I don't need to wear anything to say anything. I have a mouth and I can speak up for myself but I'd wear them because I like wearing T-shirts and I like being 18 sometimes. But if people want to scrutinize that too, then there's not much I can do, it's not in my control. But if I need to make a statement, I'm going to say it; I don't need to wear it.

SB: But your style. It tells people something about you. Some people say it spells attitude. Others say perhaps its self-confidence. Can you tell us?

SM: Everyone has attitude and I think everyone should have attitude. But I know I have attitude but that's just, I think if you don't have attitude it comes only with self confidence. So if you don't have self confidence, you won't have attitude and I think there's a difference when you have attitude and when you have arrogance. And arrogance is very different. I don't think I'm arrogant, I'm not denying I have attitude.

SB: Sania, when everyone talks about you as the tennis player, does Sania the person the individual feel left out? Tell your fans what sort of makes you tick.

SM: No, it doesn't. I think what I am on court, that's my personality. I am like you said I'm confident, I'm aggressive, and I think even on court you can see that. And I like taking risks in life and I like taking risks on the court, so it kind of does bring out my personality. So not at all, I don't feel left out at all.

SB: But otherwise, are you like any other 18 year old? You like hip-hop, you have certain idols? Or does tennis take all of that away from you?

SM: No, I'm still, I'm 18, I'm still a normal human being. Just because I'm a tennis player doesn't make me, maybe I've seen a bit more than what I should have at 18, and I've probably matured much faster than I should have, but I'm still 18, I like going to coffee shops, I like going and sitting with my friends. It's a different issue that I can't do it, but I like doing it.

SB: Why can't you do it?

SM: Because, I can do it, but it's weird for me to be conscious of myself because I know that there's not one point of time that there's no one looking at me. I'm pretty sure there are a lot of people looking at me, all the time, every time. So I'd rather sit at home and probably catch a movie or something with my friends. But I love hanging out, going out for lunches, dinners. I'm not a party person, but just basic stuff. I like sitting at Barrista, I like, that's the coffee shop, I like wearing jeans, I like wearing torn jeans and I like hip hop, and I like listening to music. It's just I can't do it all the time, that's the only difference.

SB: You're very modern. But Sania, you're also very devout?

SM: Yeah, I am religious. I come from a very conservative family. I come from a religious background; I come from a cultural city, so, (SB: Hyderbad?) yeah, Hyderabad. And I am modern, yes, but I'm also religious. I pray 5 times a day, and I read the Koran, and I do at least all the basic things that a Muslim is supposed to do.

SB: You do a lot of things, Sania. Or one of things you also do Sania is you're an ambassador for gender-equality. When we're talking of our practice in India of female-feticide, many people are when they find out, or many women when they find out that they are carrying a girl child they abort the fetus, and that's been going on in India for a long time.

SM: Yes that has been but it's going to take time to change, and I'm just trying to help in whatever little way I can. Just want people to know that, and to realize that having a girl is not that bad. My parents have 2 girls, one of them is over (SB: and look at you!) You know, and my sister is into shooting and they've never treated us, in any, they wanted a boy or anything like that. So it's something we all need to try and kind of convince the layman, and it's going to take time.

SB: What are you doing to convince them Sania on a day to day basis?

SM: On a day to day basis, it's very tough for me to go and give speeches in villages and stuff. First of all I don't think I'm old enough nor do I think I really have that much of time for me to go to places, but if I'm ever giving interviews, or if I'm ever coming across people, I'm always trying to spread the message. And I hope that, I think even if I save one girl child by doing that, and just by people looking at me and saying, you know maybe our girl can be like this, I think I'll feel lucky enough to help someone.

SB: So, in that sense, if you become a role model, you'll be very happy about that.

SM: Yeah, definitely, I want people, I mean if I can inspire them in whatever way, I think I'd feel very lucky.

SB: Another short break, then a look at Sania Mirza as youth icon.

BLOCK C

SB: Welcome back. I'm talking to Sania Mirza, tennis star and an idol for millions of young Indians. How do they show their affection for you, Sania?

SM: I get a lot of letters at home. Unfortunately I don't have the time to reply to all the letters, but whatever I can. I get a lot of letters, a lot of phone calls at home, get some emails. So I think that's the best way for them to reach out to me. And they just show their love and affection that way.

SB: With your fame has come a lot of commercialism as well. Sania Mirza is now a brand. Some of your endorsements are high, very high, in fact. And amongst all the sports people in India, probably you make you know the second largest amount of money. Did you ever imagine that you could do that in a country where cricket is so so huge?

SM: Well, first of all, the prices and the amount that comes in the papers, I don't think that's all true. Secondly, if I'm doing about 36 ads which they claim I'm doing, then I'm making the amount of money and the most amount of money, then I'd be a billionaire, probably with a palace. But that's not happening. I've done about 4 or 5 commercials now, and I'm really thankful to God that I've got whatever I have but trust me, I'm not a billionaire yet.

SB: But will you continue to do commercials? Because some people would say that you know, at this age the focus should be on the game rather than on commercials. Where do you stand on that?

SM: First of all I don't care what some people say because everyone says something or the other. And it doesn't matter to me as long as the people I know and I care for are with me in what I'm doing. A lot of people said in January when I signed up all those endorsements that that was it, it was a fluke, and I just came out of nowhere and I'm going to disappear like a lot people. Obviously a lot of them have been proven wrong. Just because anyone does commercials does not mean they are getting distracted. I think as sportspersons we know our priorities, and the day I feel myself that a commercial is coming in the way of my practice, that'll be the last time I'll be dealing with them. So you know, it's just a lot of people don't know a lot of the inside stuff that goes on in our lives, but that's just the way it is.

SB: Tell me Sania what is important to you? Is it fame, is it fortune, or is it the pride to go out and win? If you had to put these things in priority, where and how would you rank them?

SM: I've never to be honest, even when you know when I started off; we never knew what I was going to be. It was a risk and we were taking it. Secondly, I've never played for the fame or the money, and I've never even today, I play because I love the game and you know, I have a passion for the game. It's not because I'm going to give an interview just after I play a practice or a match. So, fame definitely stands last in that priority list. I think the pride to go out there and win for your country, and for yourself and for your family, I think that's what stands first. And there is nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing equal to that.

SB: What's the future holding for you or do you think about it at all because you've got so much on your plate every single day?

SM: I don't know, I don't know what tomorrow's holding for me, forget the future. I don't know what's going to happen 5 years from now, don't know what's going to happen a year from now. All I want to do is enjoy the moment and I'm living every moment and I'm very happy to be living a life like this.

SB: But if you had to wish for something both in your tennis career or perhaps even outside of it - and all of us have our wishes and prayers, share them with us if you can.

SM: I'd like a Ferrari now. (SB: what color would you like?) Red! (SB: Why red?) It's my favorite colour. No, to be honest, the way things have gone for me, I know this sounds very very, it sounds very patent but I think my life is perfect right now. I have the best parents, I have fans, I have people, I have the best of friends, I have my family, I have my sister, I have everything in my life. I have a lot of special people and a lot of special things and I don't think I can ask for more.

Thanks very much Sania. That's it for Talk Asia this week. I'm Satinder Bindra in Hyderabad. Thanks very much for watching.