Mirza secures year-end doubles No.1

Sania Mirza has ended the season as the world No.1 doubles player after Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova lost in the WTA Finals doubles final on Sunday.

Mattek-Sands would have risen to world No.1 has she and Safarova won the title in Singapore.

But when their 18-match winning streak was snapped in the final by Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, Mirza hung on to top spot.

“It’s very, very exciting to finish two years in a row as No.1,” said Mirza.

“It’s been an incredible year for me again, with seven WTA titles, a Grand Slam and ending the year at the WTA Finals in Singapore.

“Finishing the year No.1 is amazing – it’s a dream come true and gives me motivation and inspiration to come out and work even harder next year.”

Mirza won eight titles with three different partners in 2016, clinching her third Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open with Martina Hingis.

The Indian-Swiss duo claimed the Brisbane and Sydney titles before their win in Melbourne and went on to win the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

The Indian star began a new partnership with Barbora Strycova in Cincinnati in August, achieving instant success by winning the title. The pair lifted their second trophy at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Mirza clinched one additional title in 2016 at the Connecticut Open in New Haven with Monica Niculescu.

The 29-year-old holds an 8-3 record in doubles finals this season, and has held onto the No.1 ranking for 81 consecutive weeks.

Mirza made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the No.1 ranking in doubles on 13 April 2015. She owns 40 WTA titles, including three majors.