New Delhi: Sania Mirza feels that she has a "50-50" chance of winning the women`s doubles final at the French Open along with partner Elena Vesnina.
Sania and her Russian partner, seeded seventh, will take on unseeded Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in the final on Friday.
Sania said since their rivals are also in good form, it would be a good battle tomorrow and said the seedings at this stage lose meaning.
"Seedings have no meaning, particularly in the latter stages of a Grand Slam. Hradecka and Hlavackova are in the final because they have played well enough to beat all the other higher ranked teams including the current No. 1 team of Pescke-Srebotnik along the way in the competition. I think our chances are even," Sania said.
Sania Mirza had become the first female tennis player to win a Grand Slam when she won Australian Open mixed doubles in 2009 with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.
If she and Elena manage to win tomorrow`s final, Sania will also become first woman tennis player to win a women`s doubles Grand Slam title.
Nervousness is "naturally" there.
"It`s very natural to feel the excitement and every player in the world in this position goes through this. Even my semi-final opponents, Huber and Raymond were tensed up yesterday despite having maybe, 20 grand Slam titles between them!”
"The key is to keep the nerves under control, to believe that you can win. I already have a Grand Slam title under my belt and this is my third final. If I stay healthy and keep on improving, there will be more," she said.
Sania likes playing on hard courts and when asked about success on clay court, the Hyderabadi said the surface does not affect her game when she plays in the team events.
"I`ve always said that my game is not suited for clay in singles because I haven`t been grown up playing on the red clay of Europe and I struggle with my movements on that surface. But in doubles, the surface does not affect my game. I have done well in doubles on all kinds of surfaces," she said.
A few months back, Sania was not even sure where her career was heading due to injuries but she has produced some outstanding results after her comeback.
She won a singles silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, a singles bronze at the Asian Games and also won two Tour events with Elena in April and May this year.
Looking back at the tough period and the good comeback, she said, "It is truly amazing and I feel blessed!"
PTI