Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza broke down in tears during her post-match interview after she faced a defeat in the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open 2023. The Indian duo of Mirza and Rohan Bopanna did put up a fight but that wasn’t enough to help Sania finish her career with a fairytale Grand Slam win. The 36-year-old had earlier announced that this would be her final Grand Slam as she has decided to retire after the Dubai Tennis Championship in February.

Sania and Bopanna lost 6-7 (2-7), 2-6 to the Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. With this Sania finishes her journey in professional tennis with as many as six doubles titles even as title eluded her in her final Grand Slam. Bopanna too was in praise of Sania for her sevice to the game over the years.

Never thought I’d be able to play in a Grand Slam final, in front of my son: Sania

“My professional career started in Melbourne… I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my [Grand Slam] career at,” Sania said after the defeat.

“My professional career started in Melbourne… I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my [Grand Slam] career at.”

We love you, Sania ❤️@MirzaSania • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/E0dNogh1d0

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2023

“Rod Laver Arena has been special. Never thought I’d be able to play in a Grand Slam final, in front of my son.” she added.

It is pertinent to note that this was the 11th Grand Slam final of her career. Overall, she has won a total of 43 doubles titles. She was even ranked the number 1 player in the women’s doubles category for a 91 weeks.

For those who had witnessed to see her game were not left disappointed as she looked in great form producing some powerful forehand shots, some of those put their Brazilian opponents in trouble. Having lost the final Grand Slam event in her illustrious career, she would hope to make up for it by ending with a win in her final tournament at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai in February.