Having made history by winning a Grand Slam title, India's teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza arrived in Mumbai in the early hours of Tuesday morning with a renewed determination to do well in the singles as well at the US Open next month.
The 16-year-old became the first Indian girl to win a Grand Slam title, when she won the juniors girls' doubles crown, partnering Russia's Alisa Kleybanova at Wimbledon on Sunday.
However, she will not pair with the Kleybanova at the US Open as the Russian will not be participating due to personal reasons.
"I want to concentrate on my singles, though I will be playing in the doubles as well with a new partner," the Hyderabad lass told newspersons on arrival from London.
Mirza did not rule out partnering an Indian at the US Open, but said she will have to wait and see how things turn out before arriving at a decision.
Reflecting about her triumph, she said: "It is a great feeling to be the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title. I am very happy about it though I was not expecting to win it."
She confessed that she had "just decided to play in the doubles after Alisa said she was looking out for a partner".
"Now I am very happy I decided to play with her," she added.
So how does she plan to prepare for the US Open?
"I will rest for a week in Hyderabad and then, maybe, go to Bhupathi's academy in Bangalore or to the US early and start practicing to get the feel of the courts over there," she said.
Sania and Alisa beat Katerina Bohmova of Czech Republic and Michaela Krajicek of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Her's was the second Indian success story at The Championships this year after Leander Paes had won the mixed doubles title along with the legendary Martina Navratilova.
Mirza said she was not even aware that she is the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam.
"Once I came to know of it I was thrilled and I consider this a dream come true, though I would love to do well in singles in the near future," she said.
Slide show: The champions returns
Also read:
- She is living up to expectations: Sania Mirza's father
- Sania-Alisa lift girls doubles title
