Sania Mirza, with tears in eyes, becomes top trend on Twitter

Melbourne: Indian Tennis sensation Sania Mirza burst into tears while addressing post-match presentation ceremony in Melbourne on Friday.

 “My professional career started in Melbourne… I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my [Grand Slam] career at,” said Sania and she burst into tears while describing her career journey.

However, she could not win the match of mixed doubles final on day twelve of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament.

“My professional career started in Melbourne… I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my [Grand Slam] career at.”

We love you, Sania ❤️@MirzaSania • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/E0dNogh1d0

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2023

Addressing the audience, Sania said, “Rohan was my first-ever mixed-doubles partner at (aged) 14 and we won the nationals,”.

She also stated that she a six-time Grand Slam champion, three in doubles and three in mixed.

Mirza, who is married to former Pakistan team captain Shoaib Malik, has a young son Izhaan.

Sania said, “It was a long time ago, 22 years ago, and I couldn’t think of a better person — he’s one of my best friends and best partners — to finish my career here and to play the final.

Six Grand Slam titles, former women's doubles world No 1, only Indian to enter WTA singles top-30. Unapologetic of her choices & taking on trolls before SM arrived, Sania Mirza redefined what it meant to be a woman playing sport in India. The OG badass female superstar athlete. https://t.co/fdvhJAOo6j

— Susan Ninan (@ninansusan) January 27, 2023

“There’s no better place for me, or person for me, to finish my Grand Slam career.”

“I never thought that I would be able to play in front of my child in a Grand Slam final, so it’s truly special to have my four-year-old and my parents here,” she said.

"Sorry guys..." ?❤️

Indian doubles legend Sania Mirza was overcome with emotion as she bowed out of grand slam tennis. Congrats on an incredible career! ??

?️ #AusOpen LIVE | https://t.co/80XjQpwd6J#9WWOS #Tennis pic.twitter.com/9LKc8bXDMF

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 27, 2023

Mirza, known as a feisty convention-breaker, was the first Indian to win a WTA singles title, in 2005 at her hometown Hyderabad.

She reached the fourth round of the US Open the same year and by 2007 was among the women’s top 30.

But a wrist injury caused her to concentrate on doubles, forging a partnership with Swiss great Martina Hingis which produced three Grand Slam titles.

She is due to retire from all tennis after a tournament next month in Dubai, where she has lived for more than a decade and recently launched a tennis academy.