Sania Mirza: Indian Tennis superstar Sania Mirza will be retiring at the end of this 2024 season. She made the announcement after her first-round defeat in women’s doubles at the Australian Open 2024. Sania Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok went down 4-6, 6-7 against Tamara Zidansek and Kaja Juvan.
After the contest at Melbourne Park Mirza said, ‘There are a few reasons for it. It is not as simple as ‘okay I am not going to play. I do feel my recovery is taking longer, I am putting my 3-year-old son at risk by traveling so much with him, that’s also what I have to take into account. I think my body is wearing down.”
Sania Mirza also added that she had made this decision by the end of 2024.
Sania said, “I was very sure that this was going to be my last season when I started the year or even in December. Just the way my body is playing, I don’t think I can finish the season. I am still 5-60 in the world, I played nine tournaments last year. As an athlete, I think I can go deep into tournaments.”
Currently, Sania is ranked 68th in the world. She is a former World No. 1 in doubles and also reached a career-best ranking of 27 in singles. Sania last won the match was women’s doubles at the Australian Open 2016 with Martina Hingis.
Sania Mirza clinched six Grand slams in women’s doubles and reached the summit of the WTA doubles ranking. She is the first Indian who is listed in the top 30 in the WTA singles ranking.