If she is unusual in tennis, Mirza is not alone as an Indian woman achieving prominence in sport.
Badminton star Saina Nehwal, external is top of the world rankings in singles, while boxer Mary Kom, external is a five-time World Amateur Champion and a bronze medallist from the 2012 London Olympics.
But Prajwel Hegde, tennis editor at the Times of India, believes Mirza’s recent feats are potentially huge for women’s sport in the country.
“She has made not just a statement for herself but for the youth of India,” he says. “They don’t fit into any bracket or follow rules or lines. They do what they want and try to be the best they can be, which is what Sania has done, and it’s a great story for Indian sport.”