Sania Mirza: I'm definitely retired for good but I'll still be around tennis

• Tennis News
• WTA Tennis

Former doubles world No 1 Sania Mirza has confirmed that she is retired for good. Mirza, 36, played the final tournament of her career at this week's Dubai Tennis Championships. Mirza initially planned to retire in 2022 but an injury forced her to skip the US Open.

Because of that, Mirza decided to prolong her career for a little bit and make her final Grand Slam appearance at this year's Australian Open. “No. No, no, it’s not,” Mirza said when asked if there was a chance of seeing her change her mind, per Tennis Majors.

Mirza: I only prolonged my career a bit because of the injury

“The only reason that I continued to play, because I got hurt right in the middle of the year last year. For me it’s not acceptable – it’s just the person I am – to stop because of something.

I want to stop or I want to play because I want to play. Yeah, it’s time for different things. My priorities are different now. I’m just really grateful for everything that I’ve been able to achieve and been able to do in my last 20 years.

It’s been a long career. I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life," Mirza explained. Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam doubles champion, enjoyed a successful 20-year career. Now, Mirza plans to focus on some other things in life but noted that tennis will forever be a part of her life.

“I’m really grateful I have that much respect. I think life’s about new challenges, moving on. I’ve been doing this, like I said, since 2003 professionally. I feel, like I said, a lot of gratitude today.

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," Mirza said.