I’ll be back in top 30, says Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza, undergoing rehab in Dubai, tells DNA that she is not satisfied with her on-court achievements.

How’s your wrist?
It’s pretty good. I’ve been doing some early morning workouts in Dubai for the last two-and-half to three weeks.

You’ll be going to Birmingham and Eastbourne for tune-ups ahead of Wimbledon. How confident are you?
The first couple of weeks, honestly, I’m not so sure. Given a chance, I wouldn’t have made a comeback in grass. It’s uneven and has variable bounce. I’d have preferred the hardcourt.

How tough has it been to cope with the rehab?
Honestly, people don’t even realise what it is for an athlete to go through a rehab. When you are healthy, no one can touch you. You can touch the sky, almost. And then all of a sudden you become vulnerable and are forced to sit at home. You try and draw strength from your near ones but comeback is a whole new process. Very, very long and emotionally very challenging.

What has been Shoaib’s contribution so far?
It’s very handy to have him as my husband (giggles). He has helped... He is a sportsperson and understands how it is to go through a break. We work out together and it’s fun as well. I have learnt a lot from him in a very short time.

Were you an avid follower of Shoaib the cricketer?
Though I am a cricket buff, I have never followed his career seriously. Have to now (laughs).

How did you two withstand the barrage of media intrusion in a very private affair?
It has been very, very difficult (turns serious). At the end of the day, we are normal human beings with normal aspirations. Tell me, how would you have felt if you switch on the TV and find yourself being telecast all the time? And all sorts of allegations! We were everywhere. We had no other choice.

I know we are celebrities and have to cope with a bit of intrusion but the way the media reacted, it hurt. Certain mediapersons... Whom I thought to be my friends, it really hurt to see the way they reacted. We had to try really hard to remain sane. Most importantly, we have emerged stronger from the ordeal.

Do you see yourself returning to the high of 2006-07 again?
That’s the plan. That’s the aim. I’m at a difficult point in my career. I have a chronic injury and I have to manage it. This is a very important year for me. CWG and Asian Games are my priorities. This will be my 3rd Asian Games in a row and I cannot tell you how serious I am.

How do you react to the charge that you have been an underachiever?
Well...I am not satisfied with what I have achieved so far. But I have not yet retired, right? When I was world No.315, if you had told me that I will touch the World No.27-mark, I wouldn’t have believed you. And it is also true that India is a sport loving nation but not a tennis nation. We don’t understand what it is to break through to the top 50 or top 20. I am confident that I can reach top 30 again.

Would you be concentrating on doubles from now on?
Singles is and will remain my priority. Doubles comes very naturally to me...Don’t know why...Maybe because I’m an Indian (laughs). But I have never focused on doubles. I may increasingly stop taking part in it.