Sania Mirza Speaks on New Doubles Partners - Rajeev Ram and Nadiia Kichenok

Former World No. 1 doubles player Sania Mirza, of India, says she is not putting any pressure on herself ahead of her comeback to the tennis circuit in Australia. Mirza will return to the courts after a two-year hiatus during which she gave birth to her first son and will play her first tournament in Hobart with Ukraine's Nadiia Kichenok. She will also partner the Ukrainian at the Australian Open in the women's doubles event and will play with American Rajeev Ram in the mixed doubles event. Both Kichenok and Ram are new doubles partners for the Indian. 

Speaking to Sportstar, Mirza says, "Nadiia is a solid player, ranked World No.38. It is a really good opportunity to get into the thick of it all. Remember, I am not going there to win the Australian Open, though anyone would love to win a title. But, I look at this (partnership) as a really good opportunity for both of us. I never played with him (Rajeev). But he is a close friend of mine since I was 12 and he, 14 years. It will be a lot of fun and more so as he is the defending champion in Melbourne."

Speaking about her goals during her comeback, Mirza says, "Honestly, I have no set goals like wanting to win this title or the other. I want to see whether I will be able to compete at the highest level or not. Certainly, the Tokyo Olympics is at the back of my mind. And it will be great if I can make it to me what would be the fourth Olympics. But, again that is not something which is my immediate goal. I have to see how my body reacts, behaves after match-play. So, the first target is to be healthy, not winning or losing."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/35mOiVV