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Indian veteran pairing of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna sustained a gut-wrenching defeat against Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos of Brazil in the 2023 Australian Open Mixed Doubles final on January 27 (Friday). The Indians were defeated in straight sets 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. As a result, Sania's glittering Grand Slam career came to an end with six Major titles after she failed to win the Australian Open mixed doubles title at Rod Laver Arena. Coming into her final Major tournament, Sania had three women's doubles and as many mixed doubles trophies in her cabinet.
In an exclusive interview with Sports Tak, the Indian trailblazer shed some light on what influenced her decision to walk away from tennis.
"It is something that I have been thinking for a while, and I think that my body is beat. I know what is taking me to stay at this level and compete at this level, and I don't know if I have that in me anymore, and to put that much anymore. So, ya, the tank's a little bit empty," Sania told the channel," Sania said.
Sania bid an emotional goodbye as she reflected on her Grand Slam journey after losing the Australia Open Mixed Doubles final and thanked all those who played a major role in her success.
"Disclaimer, if I cry it is happy tears, not sad tears. I’m still going to play a few more tournaments, but the journey of my professional career started in Melbourne in 2005, when I played Serena Williams in the third round as an 18-year-old," Sania had said after the final
"I’ve had the privilege to come back here again and again, win some tournaments here, play some great finals … Rod Laver Arena has really been special in my life. I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my career at Grand Slams.
"I never thought I would be able to play in front of my child in a Grand Slam final, so it’s truly special for me to have my 4-year-old here, my parents here," the 36-year-old added.
Sania reflected on her emotional speech after finishing runners-up and revealed that she was overwhelmed by the moment.
"You are right. I don't really show too much emotion even when I play. Even when I win or even when I lose, I am in control of my emotions which I wasn't that day. That doesn't I am not an emotional person. I just know how to fake it well. That it was all raw and real and I was just not able to control. I had so much emotions you know those last couple of weeks playing there. Knowing that it was the last time I was going to compete in a Grand Slam and I was feeling so grateful and full of gratitude that I was able to finish my Grand Slam journey playing in a final of another Grand Slam," the legendary player said.
Speaking about her post-retirement plans, Sania is looking forward to contributing to the growth of Indian tennis. The 36-year-old wants to contribute to grooming the next generation as she steps into a new phase of her life.
"In all honesty, I would love to help the next generation. We all talk about how we don’t have a system, we don’t have idols, we don’t have champions that we can emulate. And I want to help in any way possible," said Sania.
