Sania Mirza Announces Her Plans To Retire From Tennis, Says 2022 Will Be Her Last Season

Manisha Swain

Hyderabad, 19th January 2022: Sania Mirza, former Wimbledon doubles champion and India’s most successful tennis player, announced that 2022 is going to be her final season on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour.

As per reports, the statement came after her first-round loss in women’s doubles at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

“There are a few reasons for it. It’s not as simple as okay I’m not going to play. 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. My knee was 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,” Sania informed the broadcasters after the match at Melbourne Park.

She added, “Also for me to find that motivation every day to come out. The energy is not the same anymore. There are more days than there used to be where I don’t feel like doing that. I’ve always said that I will play until I enjoy that grind, the process which I’m not sure I’m enjoying as much anymore.”

Sania Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok, lost 4-6, 6-7 to the Slovenian pair of Kaja Juvan and Tamara Zidansek in one hour and 36 minutes.

Further adding to her statement Sania said, “I have a bit of a meniscus issue going on my right knee, I woke up with wrist pain a couple of days ago. At 35, I am waking up with a couple of things that I don’t know where they’re coming from! I want to finish the season, to at least play until the US Open, that is my goal. But I still have to take it week-to-week.”

Sania will now play mixed doubles with Rajeev Ram of the USA who is a Grand Slam Champion.

“If this is my last Grand Slam, it is a great way to go out to play with someone who I’ve known since I was 12 years old and we’ll just try to have fun on the court,” said Sania.