Sania Mirza is hoping there will be no repeat of the drama that took place prior to the previous Olympics in London regarding the doubles and mixed doubles partnerships representing India when the decision process for Rio 2016 starts.
The doubles world No1, who won two grand slams with Martina Hingis in 2015, was caught in the middle of disagreements between Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and the All-India Tennis Association (AITA) and she described them as using her as “bait”, slamming them in an open letter in which she accused them of chauvinism.
With the Rio Olympics coming up next season, Mirza says it is still too early to make final calls about doubles and mixed doubles link-ups but she hopes things will go smoother this time around.
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“I hope for the sake of a lot of reasons that the same thing doesn’t happen again because I think it would be pretty bad if I had to come out and speak up again as to how I felt which was very strong, if people remember when I had said,” Mirza told reporters on Tuesday in Dubai after helping her Indian Aces team defeat the Philippine Mavericks 30-17 in the IPTL.
“I sure hope that doesn’t happen. I can’t really say or feel or think from another person’s point of view, I can tell you what I feel. And I don’t feel that right now is the right time to make that call as to who should play together. When we get closer we’ll make that call.”
As the current world No1, who has won 10 titles this year and hasn’t lost a match since August, Mirza is hoping she will be given the chance to weigh in on the decisions unlike what happened before London.
“There’s no decision made, the Olympics is seven months away still. So we have a lot to focus on before that. We have three grand slams to play.
“As tennis players, we don’t have the liberty of preparing for an event seven months in advance. Having said that, rest assured the best team will be put forward, whoever it is at that of time,” said the 29-year-old.
In the Mixed Doubles, @MirzaSania is pairing up with @DodigTennis to take on @KaPliskova/@DreddyTennis. #IPTL2 pic.twitter.com/oqK4DsfvVG
— Indian Aces (@IndianAces) December 16, 2015
“It depends on who is healthy, who is playing well, who is not playing well, which two people get along on the court and which two don’t. It’s just a decision that needs to be made, I don’t think it needs to be made right now.
“Being the No1 tennis player in the world I would imagine that I will have some say in it. But we’ll see. When we get closer to it, we’ll try and make that call.”
Roger Federer has recently confirmed he will be playing mixed doubles with Hingis in Rio and Mirza admits the Swiss pair will be the team to beat.
“Obviously they’re going to be the favourite for gold. I say that with all due respect to my partnership with whoever I’m playing with and to everyone, but on paper they’re probably going to be the best team and the team that everyone is going to go for, for the gold,” said Mirza.
“That’s not going to stop us from trying to get that gold. It will be a lot of fun to play against them.”
