Tennis star Sania Mirza has announced she will retire from tennis after 2022.”I’ve decided that this will be my last season. I’m taking it week by week. Not sure if I can last the season, but I want to,” she told reporters.
The comments came after her first-round loss in the women’s doubles in the Australian Open.
🎾 2016 women's doubles 🏆
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2022
🎾 2009 mixed doubles 🏆
We wish two-time #AusOpen champion 🇮🇳 @MirzaSania the very best as she confirms 2022 will be her last season on tour ❤️ #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/2SAmox7bRN
“I still feel I can play well, go deep into tournaments and all that. But beyond this season, I don’t see my body do it either. It’s beat.”
The tennis player, who is married to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, last won a women’s doubles title at the Ostrava Open in September, with China’s Zhang Shuai.
Sania says that injuries and a young family made her take the decision.
“I do feel my recovery is taking longer, I’m putting my three-year-old son at risk by travelling so much with him, that’s something I have to take into account. I think my body is wearing down,” she said.
“My knee was really hurting today and I’m not saying that’s the reason we lost, but I do think that it is taking time to recover as I’m getting older.”
The 35-year-old also said she had already decided that 2022 will be her last season and the first-round loss is not the reason.
“Also for me to find that motivation everyday to come out, the energy is not the same anymore. Right this minute, it’s there but there are days where I don’t feel like doing that. I’ve always said that I will play until I enjoy that grind, the process and not just winning but you have to enjoy the process and I am not sure I’m enjoying it anymore. I am enjoying it enough to play this season. I’ve worked very hard to come back, get fit, lose the weight and try to set a good example for mothers, new mothers to follow their dreams as much as they can. Beyond this season, I don’t feel my body doing it. It’s beat,” she said.
Many fans extended support to Sania after she announced her retirement. Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh called her a “queen” and Arjun Kapoor said she is an “inspiration to many”.
