Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza finished 2016 as World No. 1 in the women's doubles category for the second season in a row. Last year, the 29-year-old had created history when she became the first Indian woman to clinch the top spot. Mirza has held on to it since, for the next 81 weeks.

Mirza amassed eight titles with three different partners in 2016, also clinching her third Grand Slam trophy, the Australian Open along with former partner Martina Hingis, "It's very, very exciting to finish two years in a row as No.1," Mirza said. "It's been an incredible year for me again, with seven WTA titles, a Grand Slam and ending the year at the WTA Finals in Singapore. Finishing the year No.1 is amazing - it's a dream come true and gives me motivation and inspiration to come out and work even harder next year."

After joining hands with Czech Barbora Strycova mid-way through the year, Mirza has won the Western & Southern Open and the Pan Pacific Open