
Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis claim the Australian Open title, beating Czech pair Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in the final.

Indian tennis trailblazer Mirza has more Twitter followers than Maria Sharapova.

As well as over three million followers on Twitter, Mirza's official fan page on Facebook boasts nearly 10 million likes.

Mirza gained in popularity last year after teaming up with Martina Hingis, right. They won the year-end championships in Singapore in early November and ended 2015 with 22 straight wins.

Mirza and the former world No. 1 in singles first played together in March. They claimed their first major as a partnership at Wimbledon in July, rallying to beat Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

Mirza also enjoyed success in mixed doubles with her former manager, Mahesh Bhupathi. Together they bagged two mixed doubles grand slam crowns.

Mirza first gained prominence in 2005, when she won her first and only singles title in her hometown of Hyderabad. Injuries later forced her to abandon singles.

She was roared on by the locals that day, and is one of India's most famous sporting celebrities.

Yet Mirza hasn't been immune to criticism, especially when she married former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik in 2010. India and neighbor Pakistan have long had a frosty relationship.

India and Pakistan are especially fierce rivals in cricket, the top sport -- by far -- in both nations.

The controversies appear to be well behind Mirza and the 29-year-old enjoys massive support from her home nation.

Mirza and Hingis have their sights set on winning yet more trophies, and Bhupathi thinks they can get there.