Match point for Sania Mirza

It's another love-all start for Sania Mirza. The Indian tennis star, who has been plagued by injuries over the last two years, looks to be on the cusp of a new doubles partnership. However, this time, it is off the court.

A family source told HT on Thursday that Sania is set to get engaged to long-time friend Sohrab Mirza on July 10 in her hometown, Hyderabad. It is learnt that invitations have already been sent out.

“The boy is not related to them,” the source said after being asked about the common surname. “She knows him from her school days.” The groom-to-be is a businessman from Hyderabad.

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Tired of controversies, Sania stops playing in India

Tired of being dragged into one controversy after another in the past few months, Sania Mirza has decided against playing in India for now.

Sania has opted out of next month's Bangalore Open and has cited the petty controversies that have been dogging her for quite some time for the pullout.

"I am not playing in Bangalore Open. I have been advised by my manager not to play (there) because a lot has been happening in the past few months," Sania said.

"Everytime I have played in India, there has been some kind of problem. So we just thought it was better not to play this time," she added.

Ever since her breakthrough 2005 season, Sania has been battling controversies ranging from her on court attire being dubbed indecent by Islamic fundamentalists to the recent flag controversy during the Hopman Cup in December last year.

In fact, the off-court furores had shaken the world number 29 to such an extent that she had contemplated giving up the game altogether a few weeks before last month's Australian Open.

Sania, who will undergo a MRI scan on Tuesday, said she is pleased with the good beginning in this season, reaching the mixed doubles final at Australian Open in the company of Mahesh Bhupati.

On her encounter with Venus Williams, Sania said, ''though I played well in the first set, I could not break her service in the second set."

The injury, due to a torn abductor muscle, in the left leg had forced her out of the first three matches in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group One competition at Bangkok. Sania saved India from relegation in the Federation Cup beating Hong Kong 2-1 in the final match.

image and article source:www.ibnlive.com