Tennis Legend Sania Mirza Ends Her Career With First Round Defeat At WTA Dubai Event

Sania Mirza and her partner Madison Keys lost 4-6 0-6 against the Russian duo of Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova.

Sania had recently announced her retirement from tennis and this was the last match of her professional career.

Source : Getty Images

Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza ended her history-defining 20-year long career with a first round defeat in her final tennis tournament at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Garhoud on Tuesday, February 21. Six-time GrandSlam winner Mirza and her American partner Madison Keys lost the match in straight sets 4-6 0-6 to the Russian duo of Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in women's doubles first round match. Sania had recently announced her retirement from tennis and this was the last match of her professional career.

36-year-old Sania, who turned Pro in 2003, ends her Tennis career with six Grand Slam titles, including three women's doubles with Swiss legend Martina Hingis.

Countless memories, one @MirzaSania! ✨#DDFTennis | #SaniaMirza | #ThankYouSania pic.twitter.com/ExBQV0j9EJ

— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) February 21, 2023

On January 13, 2023, Sania had written a three-page note to announce that WTA Dubai Duty Free Championships would be her Tennis career's last tournament. Sadly, she was knocked out from the event in the first round itself.

Earlier this year in January, Sania and her partner Rohan Bopanna reached final in the mixed doubles event of Australian Open, where they lost to formidable Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos by 6-7, 2-6 in Melbourne.

In Women's doubles event of Australia Open, Sania was eliminated in the second round itself. She broke down in tears after losing the final in mixed doubles event in her final Grand Slam appearance.

“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

Sania won 43 WTA titles in her career, including three Grand Slam titles in the women's doubles category.

Tennis Queen Sania Mirza's Grand Slam title wins:

Mixed Doubles: Australian Open (2009)

Mixed Doubles: French Open (2012)

Mixed Doubles: US Open (2014)

Women's Doubles: Wimbledon (2015)

Women's Doubles: US Open (2015)

Women's Doubles: Australian Open (2016)