Sania Mirza enquires about Tilakratne Dilshan while preparing for Aus Open

Sania Mirza enquires about Sri Lankan's wicket while training for Australian open

Sania Mirza enquires about Tilakratne Dilshan while preparing for Aus Open

Sania Mirza enquires about Sri Lankan's wicket while training for Australian open

India's tennis aces made it a game, sweat and match at the city's upmarket Qi gym in Churchgate yesterday afternoon. Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi, besides Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna, were at the gym as part of their preparations for next month's Australian Open, the first of four Grand Slam tournaments.

Bhupathi and Bopanna started drills on the Swiss ball. Sania was seen doing leg exercises on the mat. Mahesh or 'Hesh' as he was called, first pumped up the volume, simulating some boxing moves like uppercuts with a pair of dumbbells. The big-serving Bopanna was doing some work for the back muscles.

Said tennis coach, Scott Davidoff, "Our goal is to prepare them for the upcoming season.

"We do tennis in the morning on the courts and then move to fitness in the afternoon. We are working to ensure that Sania's wrist, prone to injury off late, stays healthy and also working on speed of movement, side to side and back and forth."

While Davidoff was speaking, Bhupathi and Bopanna sneaked in some seconds in front of the television set where Sri Lanka was chasing India's mammoth 400-plus total. They were overheard discussing, "How South Africa had chased a huge Australia total!" Meanwhile, Sania asked, "What? Is Dilshan out?"

Their fitness trainer Shayamal Vallabhjee said, "The key to this camp is speed, power and stability. We do a lot of cardio including interval training, ladders, hurdles, the accent is on being explosive, keeping things short."

The trainer also said the heat in Melbourne, during the Australian Open, "is a factor, but training in Mumbai, the players get used to it. This time is used in ensuring correct hydration levels and setting their supplementation throughout the season."

As Sania wrapped up her workout after her strength session, she said, "I am playing the singles, mixed doubles and ladies doubles in Australia. I do not have a specific 'number goal' for the season, I have never given numbers that much importance."

Teaming up with Hesh?
Asked if she would partner Bhupathi in mixed doubles, she laughed, "Well, I have not asked him yet. We have not spoken about it."

Sania would play the women's doubles with Virginia Ruano Pascual. "I know her game very well, she has played in India in the past. She has been the World No 1 in women's doubles."

Ask her about her focus for the season, Sania said, "To stay injury free and healthy, begin the year really strong."

Even as Sania left the gym, Bhupathi and Bopanna were seen on the elliptical machines, with Qi Chief Executive Officer Ketan Ashar explaining to Shayamal how the gym's treadmills can also be made to work downhill. "Lots of treadmills have an, 'incline' option we have a, 'downhill' option here too," Ashar said.

The cardio fitness may incorporate the downhill option, but India's tennis stars are readying for an uphill season with the year's first Grand Slam in January, 2010.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels