Sports India

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza today said breaking into the world’s top 50 by the end of the year was a “very tough target".

“My aim is to be among the top 50 by the end of the year. I just want to test myself. I know it’s a very tough target, but we will see,” the 18-year-old told reporters after being felicitated by Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh.

In tune with her latest celebrity status, lensmen clicked away as Singh presented her with a cheque for Rs five lakh on behalf of the State Government.

Referring to the upcoming Dubai Open, Sania, who created history by reaching the third round of the Australian Open before becoming the first Indian to win a WTA title earlier this month at Hyderabad, said she was participating in the event just to “gain experience".

“I am leaving for Dubai on February 25. I am not expecting anything. It’s a big tournament. I just want to gain experience,” said Sania, who broke into the top 100 after winning the WTA Hyderabad title.

Tennis star Sania Mirza has got a wild card to play in the Dubai Open tournament, featuring the world’s top players, beginning on February 28.

“It’s confirmed that Sania was given a wild card and was officially communicated to us,” Sania’s father Imran Mirza said.

Imran said it will be a tough outing for World No. 99 Sania against the top players who will be playing in the competition with a cut off ranking of 36.

“The tournament will give her a nice exposure with almost all the top 30 in WTA rankings taking part including the Williams sisters, World No. 1 Lindsay Devenport and the Russian duo of Anastasia Myskina and Svetlena Kuznetsova,’ he added.

Sania, who created history by becoming the first Indian to win a WTA tour event after advancing to the third round in the Austrailan Open, will leave for Dubai on Friday.