Drop Singles & Focus On Doubles Only!

1 WTA & 14 ITF after 8.5 years of turning pro aren’t numbers you would associate with great players, but coming from a country like India (which isn’t reputed for tennis talent) that is a decent achievement. Though Sania Mirza may not stand anyway near the likes of Serena, Venus, she can proudly carry the tag of being India’s only player in those disciplines at the highest level. Plagued by injuries to parts of the body which are key to performance - wrist, back & knee, she is contemplating on giving up playing singles altogether. At the same time there is a big news doing rounds from her camp that she might partner Bob Bryan (no. 1 ranked doubles player) during the Australian Open of 2013!

Certain media reports suggest that Bob has confirmed the news of his pairing with Sania. A career illuminating with 12 doubles Grand Slams and 7 mixed doubles Grand Slams has a strange void - hasn’t won the Australian Open with a female partner! At 34, he isn’t getting younger and the number of chances to redeem glory at Melbourne aren’t increasing. On face value it might appear that Bob is risking a gamble partnering Sania for a tournament he wants to desperately win, for 2012 has been a forgettable year for Sania. A closer look at Sania’s doubles recent history would suggest otherwise.

In the last 4 years she has made it to 3 Grand Slam finals (mixed doubles); incidentally, 2 out of the 3 finals have been at Melbourne! Her doubles profile too has been on the rise in the last couple of years. Though she hasn’t won a doubles Grand Slam, 2 semi-finals & a final in the last 2 years is testimony to her rise as a prominent doubles player. She broke through the top-10 ratings (doubles) earlier this year and is currently ranked 13. In the last couple of seasons her rise as a doubles player and her successful partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi coincided. The drama surrounding the Olympics selection and the subsequent strain in on-field relations meant Sania was left to find a new partner. This new venture with a ‘good friend’ can help Sania move on and focus on growing her repute as a doubles player. Technically though critics have already hinted at adjustments this duo will have to imbibe, as both are primarily deuce players. Though she had a decent run alongside Elena Vesnina earlier in 2012 and finished the season alongside Nuria Llagostera, she hasn’t taken a call on her doubles partner for 2013.

In fact apart from her partner for mixed doubles, there appears too much haziness in her mind & speech regarding her plans for the next season. The tennis player in her wants to compete in the singles circuit, but the fragile body is holding those thoughts back. Doubles tennis is like a 400 m relay race, which provides space for individual glory and the total result is a sum of individual efforts; a format ideal for Sania’s state of career. The booming forehand is Sania’s big strength, but her arsenal lacks flexible court coverage, spontaneity and ability to play to the opponent’s weakness. The singles format in a way exploits these weaknesses but the doubles platform provides a cushioning blanket to the grey areas and the space to play to her strengths.

Certain players are better suited for certain format e.g. Bryan brothers & doubles, and it is the prerogative of the individual to realize and identify it at the right stage of the career. Sania Mirza is at the cross-roads of her career after experiencing singles failures, doubles glory, injuries and controversies. They say experience matures a person and probably the reason why she is hinting at quitting singles. Experts and peers can provide better and technically appropriate directions to her career. The wise ones would probably suggest - instead of being bogged down by injuries and failures of singles, she would be better off playing the format which is physically lesser demanding and probably the one which could optimize her skills. To be a good doubles player, you need to be aware of your partner’s game and should be able to complement the partner’s game. Sania has been found wanting in the latter aspect, but it isn't beyond her to pick that up. Quitting singles would be a huge decision for somebody who begun as primarily a singles player. We don't know whether Sania's talent was limited to whatever she has achieved thus far, but a radical decision now could provide the space to portray her inhibited skills and could unclutter her mind about her limited achievements as a singles player!