One for the Slam book: Happy tears for Sania Mirza as Grand Slam journey ends with loss in mixed doubles final

Melbourne, January 27

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza capped her trailblazing Grand Slam career with a runners-up finish alongside “best friend” Rohan Bopanna in the Australian Open mixed doubles final here today.

With Sania pairing up with her first-ever mixed doubles partner Bopanna, the duo went down 6-7(2) 2-6 to Brazilians Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the final at the Rod Laver Arena. “If I cry, these are happy tears. That’s just a disclaimer. I’m still going to play a couple of more tournaments but my journey of my professional career started in Melbourne,” an emotional Sania said as she struggled to hold back tears.

If I cry, these are happy tears. That’s just a disclaimer. I’m still going to play a couple of more tournaments but my journey of my professional career started in Melbourne. I never thought I’d be able to play in front of my child in a Grand Slam final, so it’s truly special for me. Sania Mirza, Winner of six GS doubles titles

“Rohan was my first-ever mixed doubles partner when I was 14 and we won the Nationals. It was 22 year ago and I couldn’t think of a better person — he’s my best friend and one of my best partners — to finish my career,” Sania said, thanking Bopanna, who has one French Open mixed doubles title to his credit.

The 36-year-old, who had announced that the WTA event in Dubai next month would be her swansong, is India’s most decorated woman tennis player, having won six Grand Slam doubles titles, including three mixed doubles trophies.

She won the mixed doubles titles at the 2009 Australian Open and 2012 French Open with Mahesh Bhupathi, and the 2014 US Open with Brazilian Bruno Soares.

The Rod Laver Arena has been a happy hunting ground for the Hyderabadi. She has won a women’s doubles title and a mixed doubles title at the Australian Open, and finished as runners-up four times. “It started in 2005 when I played Serena Williams in the third round as an 18-year-old, and that was scary enough 18 years ago. I have had the privilege to come back here again and again, win some tournaments here and play some great finals amongst you all,” she added. “Rod Laver Arena has really been special in my life and I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my career at in a Grand Slam.”

The presence of her son Izhaan, alongside family and friends, made the occasion sweeter. “I never thought I’d be able to play in front of my child in a Grand Slam final, so it’s truly special for me, to have my four-year-old and my parents here, and Rohan’s wife, my trainers, my family in Australia who made me feel like home,” Sania said.