Tennis ace Sania Mirza to retire at end of season

India tennis ace Sania Mirza has announced to retire from the game at the end of this season. Mirza made the statement after her defeat in the first-round in Australian Open women's doubles.

Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok lost the match in straight sets 4-6,6-7 against Tamara Zidansek and Kaja Juvan in just one hour and 37 minutes.

"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," Mirza said after the contest on Court 5 at Melbourne Park.

"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."

Sania also lost her mixed doubles first-round match in Australian Open with Rohan Bopanna. They began confidently but lost momentum mid-way to lose 6-3 6-7(2) 2-6 in one hour and 48 minutes.