Delhi, India: After failing to win the Australian Open mixed doubles title with compatriot Rohan Bopanna at the Rod Laver Arna in Melbourne on Friday, India's tennis star Sania Mirza ended her career with six Grand Slam titles.
In the title match, Bopanna and Sania lost to Luisa Stefani and Rafael Mataos of Brazil 6-7(2) 2-6.
Their first and certainly not their last Grand Slam as a team! Rafael Matos • @Luisa__Stefani • #AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/2G82TDQQDB — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) 1674790022000 Sania had won six Grand Slam titles, including three women's doubles titles and as many mixed doubles titles. She was playing in her final Major tournament. Bopanna, who is 42 years old, has won one French Open mixed doubles title.
During the presentation ceremony following the match, Sania was in tears.
Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion, three in doubles and three in mixed, stated, "Rohan was my first-ever mixed-doubles partner at (age) 14 and we won the nationals."
“I couldn't think of a better arena to finish my [Grand Slam] career a... https://t.co/7l6oRzlGfV — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) 1674788045000 "It was a long time ago, 22 years ago, and I couldn't think of a better person—he's one of my best friends and best partners—to finish my career here and to play the final. My professional career started in Melbourne.
"There's no better place for me to finish my Grand Slam career or person for me to meet."
Sania, who is married to Shoaib Malik, the former captain of Pakistan's cricket team, has a young son named Izhaan. She described it as an incredible experience to play in front of him in a major final.
She stated, "I never thought that I would be able to play in front of my child in a Grand Slam final, so it's truly special to have my four-year-old and my parents here." She was speaking about the Grand Slam final.
In Hyderabad, Sania became the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in 2005. In the same year, she made it to the fourth round of the US Open, and by 2007, she was among the top 30 women. However, she focused on doubles due to a wrist injury, forming a partnership with Swiss superstar Martina Hingis that resulted in three Grand Slam titles.
