Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna faced defeat in Australian Open 2023 mixed doubles. With this defeat, Sania also bid farewell to her career. Sania started playing professional tennis 18 years ago. Since then till date he has represented India. Sania is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.
Melbourne: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza broke down in tears after losing the Australian Open 2023 mixed doubles title match. The pair of Sania and Bopanna were defeated by the Brazilian pair of Stephanie and Matos in the title fight. In this match Sania-Bopanna pair had to face defeat by 6-7(2) 2-6. The Indian pair lost in the final and finished second. Sania was spotted with Mirza’s son Izaan at the Anti Grand Slam.
Fellow athlete Rohan Bopanna’s journey : Rohan Bopanna wishes Sania Mirza for her brilliant career after the loss. However, in the meantime, Sania could not hold back her tears. Bopanna said that Sania has inspired the youth of the country, especially girls, to play tennis. Bopanna said, ‘India is proud of Sania because she has always made India proud.
Sania thanks everyone for their cooperation : Sania, controlling her emotions, took the mic and thanked everyone for their cooperation. Sania also congratulated the winning pair of Brazil. After this she said, ‘My professional career started in 2005 from Melbourne. There couldn’t be a better place to say goodbye to a Grand Slam career today. The 36-year-old Sania had already announced that next month’s WTA tournament in Dubai will be the last of her career.
Check out Sania’s glittering career Sania has won six Grand Slam titles in her career. That includes three women’s doubles titles and as many mixed doubles titles. She is the most successful female tennis player in India. The unseeded duo of Sania and Bopanna lost to Louisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the final at the Rod Laver Arena.
- Sania thanks Rohan : Sania said, ‘These are tears of happiness. I want to participate in two more competitions. Expressing her gratitude to Bopanna, Sania said, ‘Rohan was my first partner in mixed doubles. I was 14 then and we won the national title. This story is 22 years old. He is my best friend and one of my best partners. The 42-year-old Bopanna has won a Grand Slam mixed doubles title in the form of the French Open.
Good journey with Mahesh Bhupathi : Sania won the mixed doubles titles at Australian Open in 2009 and French Open in 2012 with Mahesh Bhupathi. In 2014, he won the US Open mixed doubles title with Brazil’s Bruno Soares. His record at Rod Laver Arena has been excellent. She won the women’s doubles and mixed doubles titles here. Apart from this, she has been the runner-up in the Australian Open four times.
Sania, who started at the age of 18, says : ‘I started here in 2005 at the age of 18 and then I played against Serena Williams. I’ve been lucky enough to come here often and win some tournaments and play some good finals. The Rod Laver Arena definitely holds a special place in my life. There couldn’t have been a better place to end my Grand Slam career. This time the presence of son Izaan and other family members made the ceremony special.
A different experience playing in front of your son: ‘I never thought I would play a Grand Slam final in front of my son. So it’s special to me. My four year old son is here. My parents are here. Rohan’s wife, my trainer and my family are in Australia. So I feel at home here. Cara Black is my best friend and my best partner. I could not have achieved anything without all these partners and that is why they are special to me.
Indian pair did not get off to a good start : Lose the match due to loss of serve The Indian pair did not get off to a good start and lost serve in the first game itself. But both the Indian veterans made a good comeback winning three games in a row and soon took a 5-3 lead. Bopanna’s poor serve, however, forced him to a tiebreaker. After winning the tiebreaker, the Brazilian pair continued to dominate in the second set as well. Meanwhile, Sania could not save her serve in the fourth and eighth games.
