Jan 19, 2022: According to a report by AFP, former Indian doubles world number one Sania Mirza said on Wednesday that she will retire from tennis at the end of this season as her injuries are severe.

The 35-year-old, who is considered to be the biggest female tennis player in her country, lost in the first round of the Australian Open to her teammate Nadia Kechnuk of Ukraine.

“I have decided that this will be my last season. I am taking it week by week. Not sure if I can walk up to the season, but I want to,” he told the press in Melbourne. Her father later confirmed this to AFP.

“I still feel I can play well, go deep into tournaments and all that. But beyond this season, I don’t see my body do it either. It’s beat.”

Mirza, who has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, is teaming up with Rajiv Ram of the United States in mixed doubles at the Australian Open. They will play in the first round on Thursday.

Mirza, who is married to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, last won the women’s doubles title at the Ostrava Open in September with China’s Zhang Shuai. But Mirza admits that injuries and a young family are the reasons for this decision.

“I do feel my recovery is taking longer, I’m putting my three-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,” she said.

“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 became the first Indian to win the WTA singles title in his hometown of Hyderabad in 2005. She reached the fourth round of the US Open the same year and was in the women’s top 30 until 2007. But due to a wrist injury, she focused on doubles, partnering with Swiss great Martina Hingis, who won three Grand Slam titles.

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