Australian Open: Sania Mirza ends her Grand Slam career with 6 titles, finishes as runner-up in Mixed Doubles | Tennis News

NEW DELHI: India tennis ace Sania Mirza ended his career with six Grand Slam title after not winning Australian Open Men’s and women’s doubles cup with compatriots Rohan Bopanna at Rod Laver Arna in Melbourne on Friday.
Bopanna and Sania lost 6-7(2) 2-6 to Brazilian pair Luisa Stefani and Rafael Mataos in the title match.

Going into her last Major, Sania already has six Grand Slam titles – three women’s doubles and multiple mixed doubles titles – in her wardrobe. 42-year-old Bopanna already has a French Open mixed doubles title.
Sania had tears in her eyes during the introduction ceremony after the match.
Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion, three in doubles and three in mixed events, said: “Rohan was my first mixed doubles partner at (age) 14 and we won it. nation.

“It was a long time ago, 22 years ago, and I couldn’t think of a better person – he was one of my best friends and best partners – to end my career here and play the final.
“There is no better place for me, or for me, to end my Grand Slam career.”

Photo AP
Sania, who is married to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, has a young son Izhaan and says it was amazing to play in front of him in a grand final.
“I never thought I’d be able to play in front of my kids in a Grand Slam final, so it’s special to have my four-year-old and my parents here,” she said.
Sania was the first Indian to win the WTA singles title, in 2005 in her hometown of Hyderabad. She reached the fourth round of the US Open the same year and in 2007 was in the top 30 women. But a wrist injury forced her to focus on doubles, forging a partnership with Swiss great Martina Hingis, who has created three Grand Slam titles.
(With input from agencies)