Indian might use Dubai as a training base

Dubai: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has brushed aside a troubled past, but still kept her options open to have a second training base, possibly in Dubai.

"No, I do not have any plans of moving out of India. I want India to be my solid base because all that I have got is from my country...it's my home," Mirza insisted following her straight-sets victory over Vera Dushevina in the first round.

"This is just media hype. India is my home and maybe I will want to have a second training base, then why not?" she asked.

"Dubai has always been like a home away from home for me."

The 21-year-old has drawn a lot of flak - most of it unjustified according to her - ever since she shot into the tennis limelight in cricket-crazy India.

Islamists have been opposed to her use of tennis attire, while an activist has even gone to the extent of filing a suit in an Indian law court for Mirza's alleged dishonouring of the Indian flag during the course of the Hopman Cup earlier this year.

But Mirza feels that it is just a matter of time for her country to embrace the changes that follow successful women in their chosen field.

"I come from a country where women are normally not so involved at a high level of sport. I take great pride in what I have achieved for myself, for my family and for my country," Mirza said.

"There are issues that have cropped up during the past few years, but people will eventually get used to it. Maybe it will take another ten years, but for sure they will get used to things they way they are.

"The pressure is always going to be there, but it all depends on how one is going to handle it. Cricketers do it different and in an individual sport like tennis, it is different.

"This is the price I am paying for being what I am. Sometimes I feel low and that's when family and friends come into play."