One of the conclusions of a Harvard case study of the Women?s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, as reported in the International Herald Tribune was: ?Stars in women?s tennis, unlike most high level corporate employees, have a damagingly short-term perspective, one in which extracting maximum gain in a minimum of time trumps the long-term viability of the enterprise?. The study also concluded that starting from scratch you would be nuts to adopt tennis?s current organisational structure.

Yet, the hungry youngsters keep coming, like lemmings, drawn into the vortex powered by the existing structure of the game, the promotional endorsements and the irresistible lure of more money. Seldom do you find a day when someone has not pulled out of a tournament due to injury or withdrawn during a match.

Sania has shown that success at international levels is within reach

Sania has been pitchforked into this swirling arena. Sucked up by a starving media to fill the vacuum in the slot of a female sporting icon, Sania has been transported into a world of glamour, far beyond her modest achievements. Sania?s youthful fresh looks, with a metallic ring in her voice project an admirably positive attitude.

Her recent victory over the world No. 6 and reigning US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, has raised the bar of expectancy to an unrealistic high. Sania?s fans, specially the masses, now expect her to pole vault her way to the top. When I asked Vijay Amritraj about Sania he said: ?It is amazing what she has achieved considering the weakness in her serve, volley and poor movement?. He praised her ground shots, specially the lethal forehand and her fighting spirit.

One is happy to read the reports about the sponsorship millions pouring in but at the same time is concerned about Sania?s future. To achieve her potential she has to continue to work on her weaknesses, and at the same time maintain a level of tournament results acceptable to her sponsors and the public.

A few early losses, which are unavoidable, and the loyalty of the adoring but fickle fans will wear thin. While raking in this bonanza, Sania must not lose her focus and ambition to get to the top. Experts can talk about forehands and backhands but there is no plumb line to measure human resolve and a fighting heart. They only come to the fore when pressure puts them into a corner. Sania?s options are to sit comfortably on a pile of money, and live happily ever after, or to believe in herself and push relentlessly to achieve her potential. This is no easy task.

If she wants to do it, she has to find the correct balance between Spartan physical training, working on her weaknesses, a wise tournament schedule, meeting her promotional commitments and at the same time perform at a level to keep her sponsors happy. All this is not enough. She must keep herself injury free and not succumb to the burnout syndrome.

Sania is now participating in a Tier I WTA event in Miami. A Tier I tournament is just one level lower than the Grand Slams, which means it has the strongest possible field. Her statement: ?The ankle is 80% fit, and I have been able to train well? is baffling. Taking on the best in the world with a suspect 80% ankle seems foolhardy.

Whether Sania makes it to the top 20 or not, her contribution to the emancipation of women in India will be very significant.

In Andhra Pradesh, hoardings with Sania?s picture with the slogan: ?Your daughter may be the next champion? send hopes skyrocketing. While wishing her well, one hopes that these are not soap bubbles drifting in the wind.