March 2, 2005 Mirza Goes Back To School In Dubai DUBAI, U.A.E. - Sania Mirza caused a frenzy of excitement at Dubai's Indian High School Wednesday when she made a brief appearance in front of hundreds of star-struck students. Mirza, who defeated reigning US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open Tuesday night, visited the school to meet the students and congratulate 12-year-old Shivangi Gandhi, who won the Dubai Tennis Championships colouring-in competition. Shivangi greeted Sania with flowers upon her arrival before taking the Indian icon through to a packed assembly room where she spoke of the fame that has suddenly engulfed her following impressive performances earlier this year. "I was thrilled to meet her," said Shivangi, who was presented with a signed photograph of Mirza. "She was amazing." Mirza burst upon the tennis world by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam, before falling 61 64 to eventual Australian Open champion Serena Williams, who is also competing in the Dubai Duty Free Women' Open for the first time. Two weeks later Mirza made history again, winning the final of the Hyderabad Open in front of Congressional President Sonia Gandhi to become the first Indian woman to win a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title. Mirza caused plenty of interest when she won in the city of her birth, Hyderabad, and that attention has followed her to Dubai where the large expat population has welcomed the opportunity to see the young sensation themselves. They filled the 5000-seat stadium last night, generating almost as much attention as Andre Agassi last week. And with plenty of enthusiasm and a down-to-earth approach, the 18-year-old, who was accompanied by her mother Naseema today, spoke to the students about the sacrifices that are needed to succeed and offered plenty of practical advice to the wide eyed youngsters. "Whatever it is you do, whether it is studying, working, or playing sport, you have to be focused and determined but most of all the fun should be a part of everything it is you do," Mirza told them. The students also had the chance to ask their heroine some questions, with Mirza openly talking about her hobbies, how she relaxes, what's important to her, how she balanced school and tennis, and how she started playing the game. Her answers were often given enthusiastic applause, with the biggest response coming after her answer to what her motto is. "It is nice to be important, but more important to be nice," Mirza said. --

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