I have grown as a player, says Sania

Dubai: Sania Mirza is back on track after a knee injury prevented her from playing at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships last year.

The Indian star, who was offered a wild card, makes a welcome return to the scene of one of her greatest triumphs, where in 2005 she stunned Russian world number seven Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"It was a rough year," said Mirza looking back at 2007. "When you have surgery it's tough to come back. I was lucky that I could make that comeback. I had a great summer in America and was really playing well. In the end, it didn't turn out to be a bad year. Instead, it turned out to be a great year, probably the best year."

Mirza is only 21, and it is difficult for her to deal with all the expectations and pressures that she faces at home, where she is the sporting figurehead for every woman in India. While millions unrealistically expect her to win every match she plays, no matter who her opponent, others are ready to criticise her free spirit and what they consider to be unsuitable behaviour. It is a lot for her to handle, but she does it with a remarkable maturity.

"I've learned a lot from everything and I've grown a lot as a person as well as a tennis player," she said. "It is hard in the beginning [growing up in front of millions]. You're very conscious of the way you are or what people would think, but after a point I have cameras in my face and friends say it doesn't affect me, I'm just talking normally, and it doesn't because I'm used to it now. What other choice do I have?"