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Guwahati, Jan 17: As the Australian Open kicks off this Sunday, Indian tennis finds itself in a challenging position.

This year marks the first time in many years that the season-opening Grand Slam will proceed without an active Indian Major champion, following the retirement of veteran doubles player Rohan Bopanna.

Additionally, India will not have any representation in singles for the fourth consecutive Grand Slam, putting the focus on doubles expert Yuki Bhambri, who is currently ranked No. 21 in the world in doubles, as the country's sole significant presence in Melbourne.

In light of this situation, Sania Mirza, India's most accomplished female tennis player, provided a candid evaluation of the current state of women's tennis in India during a virtual media session organized by a sports network.

Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 in doubles, acknowledged that Indian women's tennis has faced difficulties in maintaining its momentum since her era.

“The truth is that there has been a gap in Indian women's tennis,” she stated. “We anticipated that after my success, a wave of young talent would emerge, but sadly, that hasn't materialized.”

She pointed to a mix of injuries, financial hurdles, and systemic issues as factors that have impeded the careers of promising players. While Mirza recognized the potential of emerging talents like Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi and Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, she emphasized that real progress will require time and ongoing support.

“We are working to establish a framework within our constraints to assist these players in advancing. It’s a challenging task, but we are committed,” she remarked.

Regarding India's ongoing absence from singles main draws at Grand Slams, Mirza noted that the decline has been gradual rather than sudden.

“This has been a long time coming,” she observed. “In recent years, we had Sumit Nagal in singles, but injuries hindered his progress, making things quite tough.”

She emphasized that achieving success at the elite level requires long-term strategies and solid infrastructure. “You cannot create champions overnight. It necessitates generational effort and robust systems to consistently compete at the highest level, particularly in singles,” Mirza explained.

Despite the current challenges, the Australian Open holds a special significance for Mirza, as it is the site of many pivotal moments in her career.

“If I had to choose one moment, it would be facing Serena Williams at the 2005 Australian Open,” she reminisced. “Stepping onto what was then Vodafone Arena as an 18-year-old marked the beginning of my journey. That memory still gives me chills.”

Looking forward to this year's women's singles competition, Mirza identified Aryna Sabalenka as the top contender, praising her consistency and strength on hard courts. She also mentioned Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina as formidable challengers.

On the men's side, Mirza predicted that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner could potentially reach the finals, while expressing her hope to see Novak Djokovic in yet another Melbourne final.

Reflecting on life after competitive tennis, Mirza shared that watching a Grand Slam from the sidelines offers a fresh perspective.

“As a player, you deal with constant pressure and focus. From this viewpoint, it’s less stressful,” she noted. “Having been in their shoes makes you more understanding. You realize that there could be pain, injury, or struggles behind a poor performance on the court.”