Dubai Duty Free Tennis: Sania Mirza bids adieu with no regrets

The comes a point in life when you sometimes have to give up the things you love the most. Your favourite sneakers, jeans or even home.

And it always hurts.

On Tuesday evening, at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Indian star Sania Mirza said goodbye to the sport that has meant everything to her and her loved one for over 20 beautiful years.

The former doubles world No.1, partnering American Madison Keys, went down to Veronika Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-0.

Yes, time catches up with everyone, even greats like Sania, who perform physically demanding roles. Whether she should continue is another question altogether because Sania, who is a permanent resident in Dubai, had made up her mind that it was the right moment to call time on her glittering career.

What did she need to consider when ending one’s career on a high, unlike some other sportsperson who did not do themselves any favours by retiring too late?

“It's been a long career, I'm looking forward to the next phase of my life,” said Sania, hugging her four-year-old son Izhaan, as if seeking comfort in his warmth.

“To be able to do this on my own terms, to be able to do it when I'm playing well is great. I'll still be around tennis. It's just not competing.

“However, I feel very grateful and satisfied for everything that I've been able to do.”

Ever since she turned pro in 2003 and began to forge a stellar career that would see her amass six Grand Slam doubles titles and win medals at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, Sania gave hope to every Indian by proving beyond doubt that anything is possible if you put your heart to it.

Describing the emotions that were running through her head, Sania said: “I'm actually not feeling anything right now. Actually, I was really emotional yesterday (Monday). I cried on my way to the match. I wasn't crying because I was sad. It's a way of me emoting. Just overwhelming I guess.

“Right now I feel like I'm so lucky to have him (referring to Izhaan) and to look forward to the normal things of life as well., I don't feel anything. I feel pretty numb, to be very honest, but I think it's going to hit me in a couple hours.”

When told that fellow players Victoria Azarenka and Aryana Sabalenka believed that she still had a couple more years of solid tennis in her Sania responded: “I'm really grateful I have that much respect. But I think life's about new challenges and moving on.

“For me, I just don't have that drive any more to be playing at this level, the amount of work that goes into it, to take care of my body, the physical part of it, the mental, emotional part of it is just something that I don't have that drive. I think if you love something so much, you shouldn't have to push yourself (to do it) that much,” Sania added.

“It's not like I'm retiring at 25 years old. I'm 36. I've had a full tennis life. I've been able to achieve many of my goals and more.”

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