India's teen tennis sensation Sania Mirza says she fancies her chances against Serena Williams, whom she runs into in the third round of the Australian Open on Friday.
"Well, she won in 48 minutes today and gave away three games. I won in 50 minutes and also gave away three games. So, who knows?" Sania said, after recording a historic win to become only the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam.
The 18-year-old Hyderabad girl walloped 84th-ranked Petra Mandula of Hungary on Wednesday, winning the second round match 6-2, 6-1 in 50 minutes.
The best-ever performance by an Indian woman hitherto was a second round appearance by Nirupama Sanjeev [Vaidyanathan] at the same Grand Slam in 1998.
Sania, ranked 166, said the clash with world number seven Serena will be "the biggest match of her life" and if she enjoys herself on the court she could learn a few things along the way.
"It is the biggest match of my life and I think it is hard to plan too much for it. I am just going to go out there enjoy playing on a show court," she said.
"I feel, in matches like this, what is most important is that you focus on yourself, put in 200 per cent and play the match of your life.
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"I feel if I can do that I can beat anyone, and I should not worry about who is on the other side [of the net]."
Sania said although she carries the expectations of a billion people back home, the pressure will be more on Serena since she is expected to win.
"The way I see it, I have nothing to lose. Whatever I do on court, I will learn something that will help me in the future.
"On the other hand, Serena will be playing a wild card in front of millions of people watching across the world, someone who she is expected to beat easily. The way I see it, all the pressure is on her."
Sania also said she cherishes winning the Wimbledon girls' doubles title more than Wednesday's second round victory at the Open.
"Obviously, it is wonderful to do well at your first Grand Slam, but I am not here to make up the numbers; I am here to win events," she added.
"So I would rate my win in the junior doubles at Wimbledon in 2003 higher than this.
"The [doubles] win at the Hyderabad Open last year was very satisfying too. This day is right up there but I would not say it is the happiest day. Maybe, if I beat Serena!"
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