Guy I settle down with has to be at least six feet tall: Sania

New Delhi, June 9 (UNI) Often criticised by conservatives for her attire on the court, tennis ace Sania Mirza admitted her fondness for attractive clothes and said the stylish way tennis players dress on court has instead made the game ''more colourful.'' ''I go on the court to play and win the match. My first priority on the court is to win the match. I don't see what I'm wearing. But yes, off the court I want to look good,''Sania said at a Radio chat show BBC Ek Mulaqat to be aired tommorow.

''I like clothes very much. It's said that a woman can never have enough clothes, and that's true of me also. I'm a self-confessed shopaholic,'' she added.

Sania, who became the first Indian woman to win a WTA title, said she was not unduly perturbed by what her critics say regarding her attire and her attitude.

''Everyone has their own opinion, and everyone thinks he/she is a critic, whether they understand the game or not. Just as they have the freedom to express their opinion, we have the freedom to decide what we want to take seriously and what we don't,'' she said.

''Everyone keeps giving their advice. I get all kinds of advice from thousands of people every day,'' she said while talking about her favourite cricketer Sachin Tendulkar whom many had wanted to retire just like Brian Lara did after a long slump in form.

Sania expressed her satisfaction on what she has achieved so far, which is not extraordinary though, and said, ''It feels like a dream come true. If you fulfil your dream in the game, it's a big thing.

Very few people are able to realise their dream. It's a very satisfying feeling. When I have already attained my goal, my friends are still trying to attain theirs.'' The 20-year-old Hyderabadi was also optimistic that Indian girls would come up and compete in a big way at the international level.

''After me, girls are picking up the tennis racquet. When there is so much effort going in, good results will definitely come of it, but I can't tell you how long it will take. It could be next year or it could take ten years. But one thing is for sure, tennis has found a good beginning in India,'' she said.

Sania has also dreams to start a tennis academy once she retires from the game. ''I want to give back to the game of tennis all that I've got from it. I have a dream to start a tennis academy with all the facilities that a good tennis academy should have. Ten year old children should get al the facilities there that I never got. So I want to start such an academy with the best of courts and the best of coaches.'' Sania picks former world number one and multiple Grand Slam winner Steffi Graf as her role model. ''I believe Steffi Graf is the perfect role model for any female tennis player. Having ended her tennis career, she has now settled down with a family. She has proved that if you play tennis and are a woman, it doesn't mean that you cannot have a family life. You can very well settle down and maintain a balance on both sides.'' ''Steffi has two kids; she is living a perfect life. Anyone would want a life just like that.'' When asked on his marriage plans, the pin up Indian star said in a lighter vein that his life partner has to be at least six-foot tall.

''I don't know what kind of a guy I will settle down with. I just know that he should be taller than me. He has to be at least six-feet tall... I see very few boys in the country who are taller than me. I don't meet any. I don't know where they are,'' said five foot and seven-and-a-half inches tall Sania BBC Ek Mulaqat, the weekly chat show, begins a brand new series tomorrow with a fresh line up of guests including Sania, telecom magnate Sunil Bharti Mittal, politicians Milind Deora, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Omar Abdullah, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

UNI