Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 19: Sania Mirza, an Indian tennis player, has announced that she will retire at the end of the current season. Sania made the news following her loss in the first round of the Australian Open. Sania, a former world number one in doubles, has won six Grand Slam titles.
Tennis ace from India Sania Mirza has stated that she intends to retire at the end of the current season. Sania made the declaration after she and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok lost in the first round of the Australian Open’s women’s doubles event on Wednesday. Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan and Tamara Zidansek beat Mirza and Kichenok 6-4, 7-6.
“There’s 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 3-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 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 Sania on Wednesday.
So far, the former world number one in doubles has won six Grand Slam titles. Sania stated that she wants to play until the conclusion of the season, but that going “beyond” that will be difficult.
“Also for me to find that motivation everyday 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.
“Having said that, I still want to play the season because I’m enjoying it enough to play the year. 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,” Mirza added.
