'Tennis Is My First Priority'

Sania Mirza asserted that tennis still remained her number one priority and that she was not being distracted by her recent success and the new-found fame that has come along with it.

Sania, whose participation in the Fed Cup team competition next week in the Capital has been rendered doubtful due to an ankleinjury, said playing for the country was something she had always looked forwardto but had to keep in mind long term goals.

"I would rather play the Fed Cup next five yearsinstead of playing now and messing up my career. I know that people have startedtalking ... but I and the people close to me know that I will give anything toplay for my country," the 18-year-old Hyderabadi said.

India are to play in the Group I tie of the AsiaOceania zonal qualifiers here from Apr 18 to 23, with the top team getting toplay the World Group II play-offs.

Sania dismissed suggestions that endorsements that havecome her way since the Australian Open exploits have affected her focus.

"What endorsements, I am not running for it,right. Taking rest does not mean I have to be on bed," she said at remarksthat she was spending time away from tennis in doing ad shoots.

"I have allotted only 25 days in the year forcommercials and it is as well I complete my commitments during this off-time sothat I can concentrate on the game when I start playing," she said.

Talking about the injury to the left ankle, which shepicked up in a $50,000 event in December last year, Sania said the winning runhad made her push the limits.

"It was only after the Miami event that doctors told me that it mightbecome chronic and aggravating it would result in an operation. It isfrustrating when you are peaking and this kind of injury comes up," Saniasaid.

"When you are winning, you want to keep going.Frankly, Australia happened. To play against Serena Williams is something notevery Indian girl dreams of.

"The doctors too were saying it was only a sprain,and so I was resting and playing and resting."

The first strong warning against playing further camefrom the tournament doctor in the $3.1 million event in Miami where she got awild card to the main draw and lost in the first round.

Excess fluid was discovered in both the ankles althoughit was the left which was serious.

"Not many know that I've been taking pain killers,not one but three, everyday for the past three months. I played with plasters inDubai and beat the US Open champion (Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia)."

Sania would be flying back to Hyderabad after the drawceremony. She is scheduled to get her ankle tested by her doctor on Tuesday andwould be back in Delhi on Wednesday, when the matches in Group I actually start.

She said should the doctor give her the green signal,she would be ready to hit it up from Day One. "Should I begiven the clearance to play and the captain thinks I am fit enough, I will be onthe court with the racquet on the first day."

PTI