World No 1 Sania Mirza makes India sports history

Sania Mirza has become the first Indian woman to top the world doubles rankings, drawing praise from the country’s great and good.

Mirza, 28, who decided to focus on doubles in 2012 after a recurring wrist injury, won a third consecutive title partnering Martina Hingis - and her 25th overall on the WTA Tour – at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

The pair have played three tournaments together, and won the lot, claiming titles at Indian Wells and Miami before Charleston.

The top seeds beat Casey Dellacqua and Darija Jurak 6-0 6-4 in just 57 minutes in a one-sided final.

We are the No 1 team in the world today with this. I hope we have many, many more tournaments and end the year on a high as well.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes, tweeting: "An excellent accomplishment @MirzaSania! Congrats on being World No 1 in doubles.

"It's a dream for every kid to be No1 one day," Mirza said to the crowd at the trophy ceremony.

"I can't think of a better person to do it with. When we came here we had one thing in mind, to get No 1, and she really helped me get there.

"She helped me through some tough moments this week. She's just a great person and a great player. We also become the No 1 team in the world today with this. I hope we have many, many more tournaments and end the year on a high as well."

'Achievement'

Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar said Mirza was an inspiration for upcoming tennis players.

"Congratulations to @MirzaSania on being crowned World No 1 in doubles. Terrific achievement and will inspire more to pursue the sport," Tendulkar tweeted.

Women's badminton player Saina Nehwal, who hails from Mirza's southern Indian city of Hyderabad - and who was briefly ranked No 1 in singles earlier this month - also congratulated Mirza.

"MirzaSania World No 1 in doubles congratulations huge achievement. All the very best for future," Nehwal tweeted.

India's Test cricket captain Virat Kohli said both Nehwal and Mirza had made the country proud.

"First Saina and now @MirzaSania. Indian women conquering the No 1 spot and making us proud! Congratulations!" he tweeted.

Sania, who is married to Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, had a highest singles ranking of 27 back in 2007.

One the men’s tour Indians Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi dominated the doubles circuit in the 1990s, and were the world No 1 pairing.