Expectations of her have very often been unrealistically high and sometimes she is expected to pulverise every opponent into submission, even if it happens to be one of the Williams sisters across the net. But more than that I really feel sorry for her, because at times her national commitment has been questioned and she has been strangled by the religious issues surrounding her attire and endorsements.

Now I don’t really want to go into all that, but it just seems so unfair and inappropriate that a player who everyone can clearly see gives it her all on the court has to face questions on her commitment to the nation and to the game, and also confront controversies on her choice of attire.

All I can say is that I really wish that Sania does play the Bangalore Open and in fact plays every tournament in India, because every young girl with a tennis racquet in her hand and stars in her eyes needs someone like Sania to show her the way.

I know the pressure is immense for an international sportsperson, more so when you are playing at home. And especially in a nation like India which is starved of sporting glory. Your every move is scrutinised, not just on the court but, like in Sania’s case, much more off the court where every small incident is blown out of proportion.

For me, I always considered playing as my refuge. It was my escape from the pressures of everyday life. It sort of paved the way to get me into a ‘zone’. I was always so concentrated on the pitch, especially during international matches that once a fan asked me if I was intimidated by a 50,000-strong crowd that had come to watch an India-Pakistan match during the 2004 Champions Trophy at Lahore.

I replied that I did not even hear the crowd during the match. I guess I could block out every problem and distraction every time I walked onto the pitch.

I guess the situation is vastly different in the case of Sania and the problems that she has to deal with. But what I’m trying to say is that sportspersons who represent the nation must be able to deal with the pressure. It is part and parcel of international sport.

They carry a huge responsibility towards the millions of fans who can only dream of being in that same position. Bouquets and brickbats will be hurled in her direction, but not playing is definitely not the answer.

For all her good looks and gutsy attitude and endorsements, Sania is first and foremost a star because she is a world-class tennis player, the only one in women’s tennis in India today. If she decides not to play, that will only leave millions of tennis fans, me included, very despondent.

The writer, a former captain of India’s national hockey team, retired from the sport in January 2008

express@expressindia.com