Sania Mirza wants to play exhibition matches in Pak

BEIJING: Tennis sensation Sania Mirza has expressed willingness to play exhibition matches in Pakistan, but added that she was yet to receive a formal invitation in this regard.

Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president Syed Dilawar Abbas has last month announced inviting Sania Mirza to play a couple of mixed doubles matches to promote tennis in the country. "Sania has even promised to waive off her match fee and will charge only two million rupees as appearance money," he had stated.

She said that during her younger says she had played tennis in Pakistan and found people very friendly.

"I have yet to receive a formal invitation to play exhibition matches in Pakistan. But whenever an opportunity comes, I would visit Pakistan to play matches," The News quoted her as saying in Beijing.

Sania said that she knew that she had got followers in Pakistan. "I know Pakistan tennis followers love my game and want to see me in action. I am ready to come to Pakistan to play exhibition matches," she said.

She praised Pakistan tennis star Aisam-ul Haq and said that he could improve his ranking further provided he keeps on playing circuit tournaments. "He is a very good player, even better than his ranking suggests and has the ability to improve his ranking further," she said.