Mirza keeps no Chinese threat in mind at Doha
3/12/2006 12:14
Indian women's number one Sania Mirza played down Chinese menace ahead of
the December 4-14 Doha Asian Games tennis tournament when she named non-Chinese
players as the favorites for women's singles in Doha yesterday.
"The goal is
to win a medal or the gold for my country (in singles) and I will give it my
best," said Mirza, who has only won one Grand Slam singles match in 2006 and has
made little impact elsewhere on the Women's Tennis Association Tour.
"But now
I'm only thinking about the team event and I am looking forward to the draw.
Then we have to take it match after match."
"In singles, it's hard to say.
There will probably be some unknown players coming up and there are some good
Japanese girls out there. It's going to be a tough event and we have to be at
our best," said 66th-ranked Mirza.
However, the Chinese women players are no
longer "unknown" after consecutively spectacular show in the past three
years.
Top Asian player Li Na, who plays on the World Tennis Association
(WTA) circuit and is ranked 21st in the world, will lead the Chinese charge in
Doha.
The 24 year-old became the first Chinese woman to reach the
quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament by making the last eight at the
Wimbledon in July this year. She has also surpassed Japanese veteran Ai
Sugiyama, now ranked 26th, to become the top Asian player.
China's dream team
also includes 23-year-old Zheng Jie, ranked 33rd in the world, who has also won
both the Australian and Wimbledon doubles titles with compatriot Yan Zi.
Both
players will contest the singles title in Doha and the team event alongside
20-year-old rising star, Peng Shuai, who is ranked 55th by the WTA and became
first Chinese player to reach the last four of the China Open last
September.
While Mirza had a patchy season in 2006 after breakthrough 2005
season highlighted by her first tour singles title, two Top 10 wins and US Open
fourth round appearance.
"I feel no pressure all the time but that is
something you can' t avoid when you want to be number one. But I like it, the
pressure is fun. It makes me work harder.
"I just try to block out what
people say and enjoy the pressure. It's tough sometimes, but it's the beauty of
being a tennis player. "
Xinhua
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