Sania Mirza praises Mithali Raj and Co, hopes for big jump in Indian women's tennis

Hyderabad: Women’s tennis in the country needs to grow further though young players like Karman Kaur Thandi and Prarthana Thombare are doing their best, tennis star Sania Mirza said on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_3006462” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Sania Mirza. PTI[/caption] “We have to look at it with hope. That is what we are trying to do. I think at the end of the day, we still need time to probably to make it to the next level, especially in women sport. I think in men, we are a bit brighter,” Sania told reporters. The likes of Thombare, Kaur and Ankita Bhambri are ranked around 200-250 in the world and that is no mean achievement, the 30-year-old said. “Having said that, we still need a big jump to happen. Hopefully, it will happen.” Sania was speaking on the sideline of ‘WTA Future Stars Tennis Clinic’ held at her Tennis Academy in the outskirts of Hyderabad. Hailing the impressive performance of the Indian women cricket team in the just concluded World Cup, Sania said several sportswomen in the country are doing well. Noting the Indian team did not get huge attention and support till it reached the World Cup final, Sania hoped that women’s cricket would continue to get the same patronage. Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia and WTA officials were also present on the occasion. Sania and Dhupia played with several children on the occasion.