Ranking the 5 greatest achievements of Sania Mirza's career

Sania Mirza doesn’t need any introduction. A trophy cabinet that includes the Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2015) shows how much the nation appreciates her accomplishments in tennis. Sania can be credited for single-handedly inspiring a generation of women to pick up the racquet and dare to dream.But for all the adulation and adoration she receives from India, the Indian Aces player currently participating in the IPTL has actually accomplished even more than the credit she gets. Yes, that is right. In a nation short of non-cricket sporting superstars, Sania’s accomplishments with the tennis racquet are astonishing.(For tickets to the Indian Aces matches, click here).Of course, what is most praiseworthy is the fact that she isn’t just the best in business in India, but also in the world right now. Partnering with Martina Hingis, Sania tore up the doubles circuit in 2015, registering one title in an unprecedented run of success.Here, we have compiled five of her greatest achievements till date:

#5 2005 WTA Newcomer of the Year

WTA and ATPs Newcomers of the Year: Sania Mirza and Gael Monfils

Sania received world acclaim very early in her singles career. After turning pro in 2003, she put in a brilliant 2005 season where she became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam (2005 US Open).

From being ranked outside the top 100 at the start of the year, Sania made rapid strides up the rankings ladder, which culminated in her first singles title victory at the Hyderabad Open. She was named WTA Newcomer of the Year for her exploits, and a star was born.

#4 6 gold medals at three major multi-sport events

Another gold, this time in Rio, is what Mirza will hope for in 2016

Sania has won six Gold medals at three major multi-sport events the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games and the Afro-Asian Games. An Olympic Gold in 2016 would be a dream come true not just for her but for the whole nation, and her best chance is in mixed-doubles where she would hope for the right partner.

Sania has been the subject of vicious criticism from her own countrymen around irrelevant issues like her dress code, her supposed demand for a charter plane and her marriage to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. But she has time and again silenced the detractors by giving her best for her country in every kind of international event.

#3 First Indian woman to win a Grand Slam

The first ever Indian woman to win a Grand Slam, she took mixed doubles with mentor and partner Bhupathi

Winning the 2009 Australian Open mixed doubles championship with Mahesh Bhupathi was a historic moment. It made Sania the first woman from India to win a Grand Slam of any kind.

And she didn't stop there. The Hyderabad girl went on to add two more mixed doubles Slams to her resume, winning the French Open in 2012 and the US Open in 2014, before tasting Slam success in women's doubles in 2015.

There are many firsts that could be credited to Sania, but in a nation that hasn't encouraged a lot of women in sports, being the first ever Indian female Slam champion is one of her biggest accomplishments.

#2 Breaking into the top 30 in singles

Theyre close friends and doubles partners now, but Mirzas beat the legendary Swiss Miss at singles before

With her massive forehand and aggressive mindset, Sania broke on to the scene as a promising singles player. She reached the Top 50 in 2005, becoming the first Indian woman to do so, and she finished the year ranked 31. Although 2006 wasnt really great, she finished 2007 on 32, peaking at No. 27 at one point.

Sania was a regular presence at the Grand Slams too. She made it to the third round of the Australian Open in 2005 and a career best 4th round in 2005 US Open, beating Marion Bartoli in the third round before losing to Maria Sharapova. Sania has to her credit wins against several acclaimed singles players like Svetlana Kuznetsova, Martina Hingis and Nadia Petrova.

If injuries hadn't started taking a toll on her body, Sania may well have gone on to achieve many more feats in singles, perhaps even reaching a Slam quarterfinal or two.

#1 No. 1 ranking and Grand Slam success in women\'s doubles

The unbeatable pair ended the year as World No. 1s, winning the WTA Finals in Singapore too

In April 2015 Sania accomplished a feat that will forever remain etched in the history of Indian tennis. On the back of her success with Martina Hingis, she ascended to the World No. 1 ranking in women's doubles, going where no Indian woman had ever gone before.

Sania kept adding to that milestone as she and Hingis won back-to-back Majors at Wimbledon and the US Open later in the year. Both these victories were also the first ever for an Indian woman in women's doubles.

Mirza has an impressive 397-181 W/L record in Doubles with 32 WTA titles and 4 ITF titles to her credit. Considering her stellar play this year, she has a good chance of staying at the No. 1 spot for a long time to come.