Prajwal Hegde/TNN

Bangalore, Dec 11: You can call her ‘Doctor’. That’ll be an option after the Dr MGR University in Chennai decorates tennis star Sania Mirza with a doctorate on Thursday. Point, set and match Dr Mirza could provide a nice new spin to the tradition bound lawns of Wimbledon.

"I feel privileged. It’s an honour," Sania said. "It’s always nice when the hard work you put in gets appreciated and recognized. I’m really looking forward to this."

Sania will break from the pre-season camp in Bangalore and travel to Chennai on Thursday for a specially convened convocation ceremony. Long before the 22-year-old pro held a tennis racket, she oscillated between playing with Barbie dolls and nurturing a dream of becoming a medical doctor.

"I was a very good student early on. I used to average 90 plus," Sania said. "I loved languages, I was good at maths too. I went to regular school till the 12th standard. I got a first class in the 10th and 12th standards despite studying for only a month before my exams."

"I think my first ambition as a kid was to be a doctor. I felt that way for quite a while," she said. "As I got better at tennis, it became difficult for me to devote as much time as I would’ve liked to my books. I had to make a choice, and it wasn’t easy because I enjoyed academics. I was good at it."

The Hyderabadi, who returns to the WTA tour in January following a four-month injury induced lay-off, hopes to complete her education once she’s done with tennis.