Sania Mirza emotional ahead of Australian Open: ‘Winning medals for country biggest honour’

Former world No. 1 doubles player Sania Mirza, who is set to retire from professional tennis next month, penned a heartfelt note for her fans on social media on Friday.

The Indian tennis player had earlier announced that Dubai Tennis Championships 2023 will be her last tournament and that her priorities had changed with advancing years.

Sania Mirza, now 36 and mother to a four-year-old son, has been struggling with fitness of late. The Australian Open 2023 beginning on January 16 will be Sania Mirza’s last dance on the Grand Slam stage.

"Thirty (yes, 30!) years ago a six-year-old girl from Nasr School in Hyderabad, walked onto a tennis court at Nizam Club with her young mom and fought the coach to let her learn how to play tennis…The fight for our dreams began at six!” Sania Mirza stated in her note.

Sania Mirza made her debut in 2001 and went on to become one of India’s finest tennis players of all time. The Australian Open was also the place where an 18-year-old made her Grand Slam debut in 2005 and won her first Grand Slam in 2009. 

A career spanning over 22 years saw the Sania Mirza win six Grand Slams - three in mixed doubles and three in women's doubles.

“We dared to dream of playing in a Grand Slam someday and of representing our country with honour at the highest level in sport,” Sania Mirza said.

“As I look back at my career now, not only did I get to play well over half a century of Grand Slam tournaments but I was fortunate enough to win a bunch of them, too, with God's grace," Sania Mirza said. 

The Indian tennis legend also holds the distinction of competing at four different Olympic Games. 

At the Asian Games, the Indian tennis player has won eight medals (two gold, three silver, and three bronze) since making her tournament debut in 2002. Sania Mirza competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi and won a silver in singles and a bronze in women’s doubles.

"To win medals for my country has been my biggest honour and I feel truly humbled to have been able to stand up on the podium, knowing that the tri-color had been raised high to be seen and respected by millions all over the world all because of something that I was privileged enough to achieve. I have tears in my eyes and goosebumps even as I type this," an emotional Sania Mirza stated.

Sania Mirza was slated to retire at the end of the 2022 season. However, an elbow injury in August ended her season prematurely, after which she decided to shelve her retirement plans as she wanted to go out on her own terms. In her note, Mirza also thanked her family, fans and support staff for being with her through good and bad times. 

"None of this would have been possible without the support of my parents and sister, my family, my coaches, my physios, my trainers, my fans, my supporters, my partners and my entire team that has stood by me through thick and thin over the years…It's all of you, who have helped me through the toughest phases of my life and helped this little girl from Hyderabad to not only dare to dream but to achieve those dreams, as well. So thank you from the bottom of my heart."   

At the Australian Open women’s doubles, Sania Mirza will partner with Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina. The Indian tennis player won the Australian Open doubles title with Martina Hingis in 2016. 

Mirza also clinched the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi in 2009 but her participation in the category at the Australian Open 2023 is yet to be confirmed.