Glamor seems to have a flip side for Sania Mirza, whose short skirts and midriff tops have attracted as much attention across the Indian subcontinent as her tennis achievements.
And although she is not the highest-ranked player in the Asian Games competition, 2002 Asian Games bronze medalist Mirza is grappling with the pressure of an expected title from millions of fans across the region.
Mirza's return to Doha three years after she last played here in a WTA event has kicked off tremendous interest in the 20-year-old player, who last year was the center of controversy when a Muslim organization in India demanded that she cover up during her matches.
PHOTO: AP
India's Sunni Ulema Board had condemned Mirza for wearing "un-Islamic clothes" and accused her of leading other young Muslim women astray with her tennis dresses.
A glittering nose ring also served as fodder for her detractors, but her fans asserted that Mirza was a symbol of India's new generation.
Mirza puts all it all aside to focus on tennis and her Asian Games preparations in this conservative Islamic Gulf state. A big crowd greeted her at the airport earlier this week.
"It's an honor to be here, I've warmed up for the Asian Games with last week's Asian Hopman Cup," she said.
Mirza last week combined with Rohan Bopanna to win the qualifying event in her southern Indian hometown of Hyderabad and secure a spot in the Hopman Cup international mixed team event at Perth, Australia next month.
Mirza is ranked 66th on the WTA Tour and lines up in a draw headed by China's Li Na, the Wimbledon quarter-finalist who is the top-ranked Asian at No. 21.
Despite her falling ranking, 20-year-old Mirza remains one of the major drawcards at any Asian women's competition, even if she occasionally frowns on the attention shifting from the game to her attire.
Mirza last month was ranked among the 10 most beautiful women's tennis players of all time by the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua.
India's Davis Cup veteran Mahesh Bhupathi tipped Mirza to come through her rough patch.
"Sania's had a very tough year, but she has done very well recently. Every player undergoes a lean period," said Bhupathi, whose company Globo Sport now manages Mirza.
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