Sania Mirza‘s illustrious career on the professional tennis circuit came to an end recently, and despite having over 20 years of experience in the sport she was no stranger to the reality that not all matches have fairy tale endings. She may have experienced her fair share of successes over the course of her career but she is also aware that sometimes even your best efforts are not enough to come out as a winner. Despite not having as perfect an ending as one might usually expect, Sania certainly made sure that she cherished every moment of her sporting success and will always look back with pride at what she has achieved.
For Sania Mirza, who competed in her final match at the Dubai Tennis Stadium a month after an agonizing loss in the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open, the fairytale ending she was after didn’t come. However, despite not being able to cap off her illustrious career with a Grand Slam title, applause rang out through Court 3 of the stadium in a loud and touching tribute to one of India’s most celebrated athletes. This heartfelt show of respect followed the standing ovation received at the Rod Laver Arena weeks earlier after her grand slam mixed doubles final loss, which showed just how much Mirza has accomplished and will be remembered for as she moves on from competitive tennis into retirement.
Sania had been crowned world champion and reached the top of her field numerous times, but today was a much different atmosphere. As she stepped into the media room, all the expectations, wins, and losses that made up her highly successful career were over-shadowed by the weight of disappointment. Her voice wavered as she filled everyone in on what had happened while trying to remain composed. Through each tear-filled answer it was clear that Sania was proud of her accomplishments and humbled by the amount of support she received throughout her journey. Despite an unfortunate end to this chapter of her life, Sania’s achievements will never be forgotten and serve as a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes everywhere.
Sania Mirza has had a historic and enduring impact on Indian tennis. Before her emergence as a professional, India had never produced a top-notch woman player, but since then she has been an inspiration for female athletes across the nation. Her successful career saw 5 Grand Slam titles and a number one ranking in Women’s Doubles Tennis, which was an unequivocal testament to her talent and determination. She successfully balanced motherhood with her career and inspired many women to strive for their dreams despite the odds against them. The commitment she showed to both her family and professional life sparked hope in the hearts of many aspiring athletes, both men and women alike. Without doubt Sania Mirza has left an indelible mark on Indian tennis history.
For almost two decades, Sania Mirza has been an icon in India. Her win at Wimbledon as a 17-year-old launched her into the spotlight, sparking a nation’s enthusiasm for tennis and making her emblematic of all the seemingly impossible dreams out there. Families named their children after her and passionate parents encouraged their daughters to follow suit. Soon after, it seemed as there was an abundance of young girls inspired by Mirza playing the sport, giving India hope for its own future stars. Unfortunately, after more than 20 years no successor has taken the mantle, leaving us with an unfulfilled expectation but an admiration for what she achieved in such a short period of time.
