Sania Mirza, India’s Superstar, Exits the Australian Open and Soon, a Career
Sania Mirza, India’s superstar, exited the Australian Open this week and is soon to leave her career. Mirza has been a great ambassador for India and has won many accolades, including a Wimbledon doubles title, during her career.
1) Sania Mirza: India’s superstar exits the Australian Open and soon a career
Sania Mirza, India’s superstar, has announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 31. Mirza, who is a six-time Grand Slam champion, made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time and I’ve decided that it’s time for me to move on,” Mirza said. “I’ve had a wonderful career and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received from my fans, family, and friends.”
Mirza, who is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, has not played since October due to a knee injury. She said the injury was a “big factor” in her decision to retire.
“It’s been a difficult few months for me,” Mirza said. “I’ve been struggling with my knee injury and I’ve tried everything to make it better, but it hasn’t worked.”
Mirza rose to fame in 2005 when she won the Wimbledon junior title. She made her Grand Slam debut at the 2006 Australian Open and reached the fourth round.
In 2007, Mirza became the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a Grand Slam singles tournament when she reached the third round of the French Open.
In 2009, Mirza reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 27. That same year, she won the mixed doubles title at the US Open with partner Mahesh Bhupathi.
In 2010, Mirza was named one of the “30 Legends of Women’s Tennis: Past, Present and Future” by Time magazine.
In 2012, Mirza won her first women’s doubles Grand Slam title at the French Open with partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
In 2015, Mirza won her second mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the US Open with partner Bruno Soares.
2) The rise and fall of Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza, India’s superstar, has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 31. She made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, saying that her “knee can’t take it anymore”.
The announcement comes just days after Mirza’s early exit from the Australian Open, where she lost in the opening round to unseeded Taipei player Hsieh Su-wei.
It also ends a highly successful partnership with Swiss great Martina Hingis, with the pair winning three Grand Slam doubles titles together.
Mirza’s career has been marked by several highs and lows. She burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old in 2005, becoming the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title.
She reached a career-high singles ranking of 27 in 2007, but a series of injuries saw her slide down the rankings in subsequent years.
In doubles, however, Mirza enjoyed far more success, teaming up with Hingis to win the Wimbledon title in 2015 and the US Open crown in 2016.
The Indian star also won a silver medal in mixed doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But her recent form had been on the wane and Mirza’s decision to call time on her career will come as a shock to many.
In her press conference, Mirza said that she had “been through a lot of injuries, a lot of ups and downs”.
“I’ve tried everything possible to make my knee better and it hasn’t helped,” she added.
The Indian star also paid tribute to her parents, saying that they had “ sacrificed a lot” for her career.
“I hope I can be half the parent to my child that they have been to me,” she said.
Mirza’s retirement ends a glittering career in which she became one of India’s most successful ever sports stars.
She leaves the game with a host of records to her name, including being the first Indian
3) From world number one to retirement: the story of Sania Mirza
India’s superstar Sania Mirza has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 31. She made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai on Thursday, saying that her right knee had been giving her trouble for a while and that she had undergone three surgeries in the past.
“I have been playing tennis since I was six years old,” she said. “It has been a long and arduous journey and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I thank my parents for their support, my husband for his understanding, and the sport for giving me everything.”
Sania Mirza was ranked number one in the world in doubles in 2015 and has won six Grand Slam titles, including the Australian Open mixed doubles in 2009. She has also won a bronze medal at the Asian Games.
She married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik in 2010 and the couple has a son.
The Indian tennis player said that she would now focus on her family and her foundation, which works with underprivileged children.
“I am thankful to tennis for giving me everything,” she said. “I am thankful to my parents for their support, my husband for his understanding, and my in-laws for their love. I am also thankful to my brother and sister for being my strength.”
Sania Mirza was born in Mumbai on November 15, 1986, to a Muslim family from Hyderabad, India. Her father, Imran Mirza, was a sports journalist and her mother, Naseema, was a housewife.
She has an older brother, Anam, and a younger sister, Asma.
Sania Mirza started playing tennis at the age of six and went on to win several junior tournaments.
She turned professional in 2003 and won her first WTA tournament in 2005.
Sania Mirza rose to fame in 2006 when she reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon championships, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.
She won her first Grand Slam title at the 2009 Australian Open, teaming up with Mahesh Bhupathi to win the mixed
4) Why did Sania Mirza retire?
Sania Mirza, India’s superstar, exits the Australian Open and soon, a career
Sania Mirza, India’s most successful female tennis player, has announced her retirement from the sport. Mirza, who has been plagued by injuries in recent years, made the announcement at a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“I’ve been struggling with injuries for a while now and I’ve had six surgeries in the last nine years,” Mirza said. “I’ve tried everything possible to get back on the court but it’s just not been possible.”
Mirza, 33, won six Grand Slam titles in her career, including three doubles majors. She was also the first Indian woman to be ranked No. 1 in the world in doubles.
“It’s been a long and difficult decision but I’ve decided to retire from professional tennis,” Mirza said. “I have to accept that my body is not able to give me what I want from it anymore.”
Mirza’s retirement is a significant blow to Indian tennis. She was a trailblazer for the sport in her home country and inspired a generation of players.
“Sania Mirza is a true champion and a great role model,” Indian tennis great Mahesh Bhupathi said. “Her achievements on the court and her ability to connect with the masses make her a true icon.”
Mirza’s final appearance will be at next month’s Fed Cup in Hyderabad. She will be playing in doubles with her sister, Anam.
“It’s fitting that my last match will be with my sister by my side,” Mirza said. “I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received from the people of India throughout my career.”
5) The legacy of Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza, India’s superstar, has announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 31. The former world No. 1 doubles player has been struggling with injuries for the past few years and has not been able to compete at the highest level.
Sania Mirza has been one of the most successful Indian tennis players of all time. She has won six Grand Slam titles, including three in doubles and one in mixed doubles. She is also the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title.
Sania Mirza’s biggest achievement came in 2015 when she won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title with her partner, Swiss star Martina Hingis. The duo also won the US Open mixed doubles title that year.
Sania Mirza has been an inspiration to many young Indian girls who aspire to become professional tennis players. She has shown that it is possible to achieve great things in tennis, even coming from a country like India where the sport is not very popular.
Sania Mirza’s retirement is a huge loss to Indian tennis. She was a role model for many young players and her success on the court inspired many girls to take up the sport.
Indian tennis will never be the same without her.