The Reasons Behind Sania Mirza’s Retirement – Sania Speaks

In her last Grand Slam tournament, Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna reached the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open. The six-time Grand Slam winner has announced that she will retire from tennis.

Sania Mirza, the winner of six Grand Slam singles titles, was a guest on the episode Backstage with Boria, “For me, it is about people telling me why are you stopping rather than when are you stopping. Absolutely I have the game and I can still win tennis matches at the highest level. That is not the point. But what goes in behind staying at this level and competing at this level is an issue. Physically, mentally and emotionally I am no longer capable of handling this. The process is the issue. In Melbourne, I would spend hours with the physio to be able to go out and compete. What goes in behind your ability to compete is something I can no longer deal with. And I am not one to compete when I know I can no longer do it.”

She also said, “When I was pregnant, I was a top 10 player. People said I was mad to stop at the time and take a break. But you know there is never a right time. I felt it was the right time. I took a break. But never did I say I will retire. That is because deep down I knew I had tennis left in me. Now it is different. Now like I said to you I can no longer deal with the process. As a result, I think it is time to stop. But then I still have two tournaments left. And I am playing with Bethanie and Madison Keys. They are two of my best friends on tour and I will do all I can to win. That competitive me is still very much there and will be there till I play my last match.”

If Sania Mirza and Bopanna had won the mixed doubles final at the 2023 Australian Open, it would have been a suitable goodbye to Grand Slams. However, the Indian team lost in straight sets against the Brazilian pairing of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos.