Sania Mirza played her final professional match Tuesday, ending her career at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament she considered her home event.
“My first memory was playing Svetlana Kuznetsova here, winning that match, the stadium was packed and that was my first time ever playing in those kind of stadiums outside of India,” Mirza told reporters. “I’ve had some amazing matches here. I’ve been able to win this tournament in doubles. I’ve played well here in singles, but more than anything, for a long time we didn’t have a tournament back in India and this was the tournament that I looked forward to as a home tournament.
In Photos: Sania Mirza’s iconic 20-year-career comes to a close
“I feel 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.”
The 36-year-old Indian leaves a storied legacy and firm imprint on the Hologic WTA Tour. In a country with little history or infrastructure to support women’s tennis, Mirza turned pro in 2003. Over the next 20 years, the Hyderabad native would build a historic career in both singles and doubles. In 2005, she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title when she won her hometown tournament, the Hyderabad Open, and was voted WTA Newcomer of the Year.
“I’ll never forget about the match I lost to her in Australia the first time I qualified for a Grand Slam in Australia as a professional,” former No.1 Victoria Azarenka said. “I think what she has done for India, for the region here, is absolutely remarkable.
“Little girls who didn’t really have a role model before now can see what’s possible. I think that is priceless. That’s going to be her legacy.”
Armed with a devastating forehand, Mirza reached a career-high No.27 in singles before transitioning full time to the doubles circuit. She won her first major title at the Australian Open in 2009, capturing the mixed title with Mahesh Bhupathi. She went on to win mixed doubles at the 2012 French Open and 2014 US Open.