Friday, January 21 2005 20:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Melbourne: Indian sports' new pin-up girl Sania Mirza today (Jan 21, 2005) said she surprised herself with her gallant performance against American superstar Serena Williams at the Australian Open Grand Slam and would not settle for any thing less than a top-10 ranking in her career.

Sania, ranked 166 in the world and playing in the main draw as a wildcard, went down 1-6, 4-6 in 57 minutes but more than lived upto her expectations as she matched the six-time Grand Slam champion stroke for stroke midway through the second set.

The 18-year old from Hyderabad said she had proved that she had the potential to become a world-beater.

"I'm really happy because although people have spoken about potential and I have always believed in myself, you never know for sure until you play the best," Sania told sources in an interview in Melbourne.

"Regardless of ranking I believe she is the world's best player and I am happy that I could compete. I showed that I can really play at a Top 10 level if I keep improving.

"I felt that if it was one of the other seeds today and I played the way I did in the second set I would have won.

"That gives me the encouragement to work on my second serves, my variation, my fitness and my court coverage.

"I don't think I should be happy with top-100 or top-50. I want to perform at the highest level consistently."

Sania said she was jittery at the start of the match but once she settled down, she was able to play her natural game.

"I was a little nervous in the beginning and had butterflies in my stomach. She is good enough to double-bagel a lot of much more highly ranked players," she said.

"So in the beginning I was feeling the pressure to just register on the scoreboard. Once that happened I was a lot more confident and was able to play my natural game," Sania said.

"Once the confidence came and the natural game returned, I think I surprised myself. Especially in the first half of the second set where I seemed to be in control of the games and Serena faced three break points.

"I honestly did not expect that I would be able to match her for strength and power," she said.

Sania had said before the match she wanted to feel for herself how hard Williams hit her strokes. She came back more than overawed from the match at Vodafone Arena.

"I have never faced a serve like hers. The power on the first serve was incredible. I have rarely enjoyed myself more on a tennis court and it was very satisfying to fight back."

The 2003 Wimbledon girls doubles champion said to see from close range the way Williams stepped up her game was terrific.

"You could feel the intensity and the change of mood in Serena. In the first set she was very relaxed and calm but she got more and more intense and animated as the match continued.

"I could see her pump her fists and say 'come on' and her grunts got louder and her strokes got harder. It was incredible just feeling that intensity rise." As she had said before the match, Sania learnt even while losing.

"I think I learnt about myself and I learnt from a true champion. It amazed me how every time she faced any pressure she raised the game."

Williams made a sporting gesture as she warmly congratulated the Indian at the end of the match.

"She was really sweet. She said that it was great playing someone from India and that at age 18, I have a lot of potential, and that I would make India proud," Sania said.

Sania's performance at the Vodafone Arena drew the attention of no less a coach than Brad Gilbert, who had worked with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick.

"He said that he expected me to at least be in the top 50 in the next 12 months," Sania beamed.

The teenager had braved a sore ankle, which she had injured two weeks. She said she needed rest and hoped to be fit for the Hyderabad Open WTA Tour event in February.

"Now I'm just looking forward to going home to Hyderabad for a week and resting my ankle. If I recover in time I will play in Thailand in a week.

"If not then I will play next at the Hyderabad Open. Hopefully the organisers Globosport will give me a wild card like the last two years because this year I aim to win the event.

"I know I can do it and nothing will be better than to win my first singles senior title in my home town."