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.
