Why ‘SanTina’ is not a Fluke!

“Our fairy tale continues…”

Following the Australian Open victory, Martina Hingis chose these words when asked to describe her prodigious partnership with Sania Mirza. Needless to say, she said it all, she said it right!

There’s something really defining about this merger. It’s quick enough to draw attention, intriguing enough to watch, charismatic enough to enthrall, and mesmerizing enough to make people gasp for breath. It’s kind of like a modern-day fusion between old-school dexterity and new-age audacity.

It’s solid, it’s stellar, and it just works!

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis have been through a lot in life. They’ve basked in the glory of eminence and have scuffled with the horrors of society. They’ve scaled the peaks of success and have struggled with the dooms of failure. They’ve learnt the meaning of the phrase “Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” the hard way and have learnt to take things in their stride. Which is why when we combine the two, we get an impeccable combination that just cannot stop winning.

Till now, their staggering run includes a world record 36-match winning streak, has seen them win 12 titles (including 8 in a row), and has seen them bring home a hat-trick of Grand Slams. Compared to the 2014 season where each won just 3 titles with their respective partners, ‘SanTina’ indeed has enjoyed a fairy tale run.

However, with great power comes great responsibility!

While the exploits of Sania and Hingis have made them the top doubles pair in the world right now, the flip side states that the pair also has a bullseye on their heads as the prime target to take down. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka did come close to ‘dethroning’ the Indo-Swiss duo but could not get the job done. In reality, though, it might be quite some time before someone actually breaches the defense.

It’s not that Sania and Hingis are unbeatable to such an extent that it will take someone pulling off a “Djoker” to beat them; it’s that they’re so unmatched in terms of conviction and self-belief that beating them right now is next to impossible. The aura that they possess is something that many have tried and failed to achieve and their unique ability to complete each other’s game is beyond legendary.

Sania has power, Hingis has finesse. Sania has a forehand, Hingis has a lob. Sania has charm, Hingis has grace. It all complements each other so well that the points just beg to be taken away. The chemistry that they share is appealingly pure and it shows not just when they play but when they talk as well.

Their philosophy is pretty simple. They come, they play, they win. Period! They keep it meek and rely on their instincts. Instincts so adept that one just can’t help admiring the genius in them. They win matches on the court and they win hearts off it. Purely because they are that damn good!

Haters will always try to find reasons to hate them, but they won’t find any. Adversaries will always try to find chinks in their armour, but they won’t find many. Critics will write nonsense just because they need something to do, however SanTina is like a force that will just keep rolling through!

People need to understand that SanTina is not a fluke. They’re not even close. They’re not even in the same room were fluke stays. Unless of course the definition of fluke is a group of individuals who exploit their talents to the best of their abilities in order to get aboard a juggernaut that just thunders through and tramples anything and everything in its path. Then maybe!

In reality tough, they’re just an awesome amalgamation of skill, flair and poise. For their good and for ours as well, let’s hope that no one comes even remotely close to derailing their winning bandwagon. They give us something pretty to watch and something pristine to follow. The tennis fraternity owes them big time for their contribution towards the sport.

Sania was recently conferred with the NDTV Sportsperson of the Year award where she said, “If in a billion people a few thousand don’t like you, it doesn’t matter.”

Game, set and match Mirza on that one.

My dream, as a sports enthusiast, is to have a society where people cherish the immense sacrifices that Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis have made rather than just keeping talking about their past.

My dream, as a sports enthusiast, is to have a society where people respect Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis for what they have achieved rather than go out of their way to find flaws and bog them down.

And finally my dream, as a sports enthusiast, is to have a society where people feel proud of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis for their never-say-die attitude in life irrespective of their winning streak.

Maybe one day. Maybe someday!