India's decorated tennis player Sania Mirza has decided to hang up her racquet after the WTA 1000 event at Dubai in the latter half of February 2023.
"I was going to stop right after the WTA Finals, because we were going to make the WTA Finals, but I tore my tendon in my elbow right before US Open so I had to pull out of everything," Sania told wtatennis.com.
"And honestly, the person that I am, I like to do things on my own terms. So I don't want to be forced out by injury. So I've been training."
The 36-year-old Sania suffered a calf problem which kept her out of the court. The former doubles no.1 is hoping that the injury won't resurface.
"The plan is to try and retire in Dubai during the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships," she said.
Sania will be seen in action in the Australian open where she has partnered with Kazakhstan's Anna Danilina.
Last year, Sania was expected to draw curtains on her illustrious career at the end of season but an elbow injury delayed her plans. She was ruled out of the US open and did not make an appearance for the rest of year.
While Sania has continued to represent India after marrying former Pakistan cricket team skipper Shoaib Malik, she has been living in Dubai for more than 10 years. She will be bidding adieu to the sport at her home base.
Sania has won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open women's doubles crown once each, besides winning one title each in the Australian Open, French Open and US Open mixed doubles.
