From the courts of Hyderabad to the global stage, the “Queen of Aces” launches The Next Set to mentor the next generation of female champions.
Hyderabad, India – In the city where her legendary journey began, Sania Mirza is once again proving that her greatest impact might just happen off the court. This Tuesday, the six-time Grand Slam champion officially unveiled The Next Set, a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide a professional backbone for India’s emerging women athletes.
While Sania may have hung up her professional rackets, her vision for Indian sports is clearly just getting started.
Bridging the Gap: The “Traveling Support” System
One of the most significant hurdles for rising Indian athletes isn’t just talent—it’s the lack of a consistent support structure on the grueling international circuit. The Next Set addresses this head-on with a two-pronged approach:
- Professional Entourage: The program provides high-level athletes with access to a dedicated team of coaches, physiotherapists, and fitness trainers who travel with them to tournaments. This ensures that a player’s preparation remains consistent, whether they are in London, Melbourne, or Mumbai.
- The SMTA Clinics: Back home in Hyderabad, the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy (SMTA) will serve as the hub for specialized camps. Led personally by Sania, these clinics will dive deep into the technical, tactical, and—perhaps most importantly—the mental rigors of professional sport.
A Personal Mission
For Sania, this isn’t just another corporate launch; it’s a mission rooted in her own history.
“The Next Set is deeply personal to me,” Mirza shared during the announcement. “Having lived the highs and lows of my own journey, I know first-hand how transformative the right guidance and mentorship can be at the right time. Indian women’s tennis has immense talent… this is my way of giving back.”
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The initiative has already garnered strong support from industry leaders. BNW Developments and Shookra Polyclinics have signed on as foundational partners. Notably, Shookra Polyclinics (chaired by Ankiti Bose) will serve as the Longevity Partner, focusing on the holistic development and long-term health of the athletes to ensure their careers are as sustainable as they are successful.
Why This Matters for Hyderabad
Hyderabad has long been a nursery for world-class athletes, from PV Sindhu to Sania herself. By basing this initiative’s training core at her local academy, Sania is ensuring that the “City of Pearls” remains the beating heart of Indian women’s sports.
As the program begins its first phase with tennis, the ultimate goal is to expand this blueprint to other disciplines, creating a gold-standard pathway for every Indian woman who dreams of competing on the world stage.
