“I’m very emotional — I don’t cry in front of people, but I’m almost there now.”
Sania Mirza made it to the blended doubles last of the 2023 Australian Open, the final Grand Slam of her two-decade profession.
The 36-year-old together with Rohan Bopanna bested Desirea Krawczyk and Neil Skupski 7-6(5) 6-7(5). [10-6] and attain the finals.
“We were playing one of the best mixed doubles teams on tour and we knew we had to come up with the best – I’m glad we were able to do that,” Mirza stated after the match.
The legendary pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna are only one win away from successful the Australian Open Mixed Doubles title. pic.twitter.com/iRwTATr3lQ
– Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) January 25, 2023
“It was an amazing match, obviously a lot of nervousness playing my last Slam and playing with Rohan is very special,” stated Mirza, who plans to retire later this yr. . Rohan was my first blended doubles accomplice after I was 14… We are very excited to be again right here and provides ourselves one other probability.”
On taking part in in Melbourne, the India worldwide stated, “I feel the love here, I have been coming here for 18 years, it feels like home to me because to be honest, I have family here, I eat at home.” Yeah, that is what I get.” Lots of home food and I have all these Indians coming out and supporting me. It’s been a long journey, and I’m really going to miss being back here.”
She gained her first blended doubles Grand Slam title in 2009 at Melbourne Park with Mahesh Bhupathi. She later gained the French Open and US Open titles in 2012 and 2014.
Mirza recalled her favourite Australian Open second, saying, “The most special memory is playing here against Serena, when I was 18, even though I lost that match, I flew off the court.”
“My perception was instilled there, that that is the place I belong and that is the place I wish to be. Even although Serena gained that match that yr, however for me it gave me the boldness that as a younger Indian woman, the dream that I needed to play within the slams, to try to win them, was one thing that occurred to me that yr. That reminiscence occurred… I’m getting goosebumps after I speak about it.”
Mirza and Bopanna will tackle Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos within the blended doubles last on the Rod Laver Arena on Friday.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
