“My energy and motivation not same anymore”- End of an Era as Sania Mirza announces retirement after 2022 season


“My energy and motivation not same anymore”- End of an Era as Sania Mirza announces retirement after 2022 season

Sania Mirza

Sania Mirza is probably one of the most iconic names in the history of Indian tennis, being the most successful Indian female tennis player of all time. She has gone on win six Doubles Grand Slam titles during her prolific career. Despite being remembered for her doubles performances, from 2003 until her retirement from singles in 2013, she was ranked by the Women’s Tennis Association as India’s No. 1 player. At her peak, she was the World No.27 in singles in 2007, the highest ranked player ever from India.

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The measure of her success can be seen by the fact that Mirza spend a total of 91 weeks as the World No. 1 in doubles. However, the 35-year-old has struggled with persistent injuries, motherhood and poor form over the past couple of years. Mirza and her partner Nadiia Kichenok crashed out of the 2022 Australian Open doubles on Wednesday after a straight sets loss.

Sania Mirza announces 2022 to be her last season

Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza

After her straight sets defeat in the first round of the Australian Open doubles, Sania Mirza announced that 2022 will be her last season in the game.

“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. There’s a bunch 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 do feel, considering my son is three years old, I’m putting him at risk by travelling so much with him, that’s something I have to take into account. My body is wearing down. 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,”– said the legendary player post her defeat. This news was then also confirmed by her father Imran Mirza.

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The veteran cited age catching up to her as the major reason for her to take the tough decision. Another major influence in her decision was  significant time away from her young son. Mirza also revealed about how there is a lack of motivation and enjoyment to play tennis after a career spanning 20 years.

“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,”– Mirza added at the post match press conference.

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