The 26-year-old, once in the world’s Top 30, recently copped flak from all quarters after falling outside the Top 100 singles ranking earlier this year despite the fact that she has been riddled with a series of injuries. Sania has undergone three surgeries — on her wrist and both knees. It’s no wonder then that she proudly said that her French Open win was special given the fact that she’s been able to successfully bounce back from her third surgery.u00a0

“Any Grand Slam title is special but I’m particularly thrilled that I was able to bounce back this time after my third surgery. There were moments in the last five years, when I underwent three surgeries, when I felt I might never be able hold that tennis racquet again,” Mirza told MiD DAY from Paris yesterday, a day after she became India’s first female multiple Grand Slam champion.