Queen of Tennis

Unlike many women tennis stars who share bittershe had no plans to hire a coach as everything was
relationship with their parents, Indian icon Sania Mirzagoing fine for her at the moment.
enjoys the happiest of bonds with her father and"I always say 'never fix what's not broken'. When I
mentor Imran. The 20-year-old, who shot to famehave a bad patch, or if I do, then maybe we can work
because of her exploits in world tennis, flaunts theon getting a coach," she said.
strong relationship with her father as a reason behindSania's drama-free relationship with her father is a
her success.rarity in women's elite tennis. Jelena Dokic's troubles
"My dad has always been the super coach. I mean, hewith her father are widely known while the likes of
has always been around since I was a kid and I thinkMary Pierce, Jennifer Capriati and the Williams sisters
he understands me, obviously on a personal level. He ishave had overbearing fathers. The 22 Grand
my father, we get along great, he's very easy going.Slam-winning legend Steffi Graf had her father and
"That helps a lot because he is very relaxed after afirst coach Peter jailed for income-tax evasion.
match, before a match. He takes tennis only as aSania said besides her family's backing, the support of
sport and I think that's important. He does not think thattennis fans in India served as a huge inspiration to do
this is it. It is part of life. I think we both understandwell.
that's what makes the relationship work," she was"It's a great feeling when people come up and say 'I
quoted as saying by The Age.picked up a tennis racquet because of you and
Sania, who is playing the Australian Open here, saidbecause of what you've done'.