Zimbabwean Cara Black, Sania Mirza’s doubles partner, was training at the Indian’s tennis facility in Hyderabad
And, the 10-time Grand Slam winner Cara Black of Zimbabwe has exhibited in the first few days of her training stint at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy (SMTA) in Hyderabad some rare traits which suggest why she is such a champion doubles player.
The 34-year-old Cara first surprised the Mirzas — Imran and Sania — by driving straight from the airport to the tennis courts on the day she arrived and had a two-hour long training session right away with the 19-year-old national player Byreddy Sai Saran Reddy.
Such things are never easy for someone her age, especially given the fact that this training stint also means that she has to stay away from her 19-month-old baby boy. And for me there is no better feeling than winning a Grand Slam title,” starts off Cara in this exclusive chat with Sportstar.
But hasn’t she won 10 Grand Slam titles? But that is the greatness of sport that it keeps you away from those things and helps you focus on what you love the most — in my case playing tennis,” Cara analyses.
Every day since she arrived, Cara has become a sort of a phenomenon at the Academy for all those who are struggling to master the basics. I would love to keep coming back whenever it is possible,” says the biggest tennis star from abroad ever to visit the Academy.
The multiple Grand Slam winner’s training sessions, in terms of commitment and hard work, left the trainees at the SMTA, who are only half her age, realising how much effort was needed to be a champion player. We have still a long way to go,” said one of the young talents, Abdullah.
On her partnership with Sania, the Zimbabwean says spontaneously that the Indian is an unbelievable player and hits the ball so hard that some of the women players on the circuit are really scared of playing her.
“I have seen players really worried about taking on Sania in doubles. For this you have to have passion for the sport and I am still hungry to win many more Grand Slams,” she says, while taking a break from her hectic training schedule.
“We (she and Sania) are not going to sit back on the two WTA titles we have won. We are going to work hard and be patient so that the results will take care of themselves,” Cara explained.
Referring to her grand comeback after being blessed with a baby boy, a smiling Cara reminds one that she had to take a two-year break for that.