In the women’s doubles final, Indo-Swiss pair of Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis won the final 5-7 7-6 7-5 against the Russina pair Makarova-Vesnina for their first Wimbledon title. This is Sania Mirza’s first-ever women’s doubles Grand Slam title. After losing the first set, Hingis and Mirza edged a closely-fought second set in the tie-break and then came back from 5-2 down in the third, winning five successive games to secure the title. The final was halted at 5-5 in the deciding set due to fading light and to allow the Centre Court roof to be closed.
Sania is winner of three mixed doubles Grand Slam trophies. She won Australian Open (2009) and French Open (2012) with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and the US Open with Bruno Soares last year. Hingis won the Wimbledon doubles with Helena Sukova in 1996 and Jana Novotna in 1998. Mirza was making history of her own: she became the first Indian woman to win a grand slam event.
- The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of women’s professional tennis.
- WTA’s counterpart organization in the men’s professional game is the Association of Tennis Professionals.
- In 2004, Mirza was awarded the Arjuna award by the Indian Government. In 2006, Mirza was awarded a Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest honour for her achievements as a tennis player.
- In the year 2014, the government of Telangana appointed Sania Mirza as the brand ambassador of the state.
GK Question
- Sania Mirza and _________ won the 2015 Women’s Double WTA Championship? Cara Black
- Cara Black represents which country? Zimbabwe
