Saina Mirza is
undoubtedly Indian tennis’ one of the biggest names and only recognisable face
in women’s tennis. She won six Grand Slam doubles titles and, in doing so, she
has singlehandedly paved the way for the rise of Indian women’s tennis. On
Wednesday, after making a first-round exit from the ongoing Australian Open, she announced that the 2022 season will be the last season of her illustrious career. 

Also Read: Body is wearing down: Tennis star Sania Mirza to retire after 2022 season

Sania Mirza
reached the summit of women’s doubles rankings and became the first Indian
woman to break into the top 30 in the WTA singles ranking.

The three-time
Olympian and the Commonwealth Games silver medallist produced some breathtaking
moments in her.

Also Read: Watch: Sania Mirza reacts as ‘Jijaji’ calls greet Shoaib Malik during Ind-Pak match

As she announced retirement, Opoyi picks up the top moments of Sania Mirza’s
remarkable career. 

Announcing arrival against Serena Williams

Following a
breakthrough 2004 season which saw Sania Mirza win six ITF singles titles and
her first WTA doubles title at the Hyderabad Open, she already got the status
of an emerging star heading into her maiden Grand Slam, the 2005 Australian
Open.

A wild card
entry to the tournament, the Hyderabadi tennis player produced an upset victory
against Australia’s Cindy Watson and Hungary’s Petra Mandula to set up a
third-round clash against none other than Serena Williams, who by that time had
won six Grand Slam titles.

Also Read: Tokyo Olympics: Sania Mirza-Ankita Raina lose in women’s double 1st round

The Indian
youngster fell short against the powerful American. Sania Mirza lost the first
set 6-1 but put up a courageous display in the second, often frustrating Serena
with her relentless pursuit to keep the ball in play.

Though Sania
lost the second set 6-4 and consequently the match, an 18-year-old Indian
standing tall and playing tennis without fear against a behemoth like Serena
Williams was an inspiration.

Also Read: Sania Mirza, the torchbearer of Indian tennis at Tokyo Olympics

First big achievement

The Australian
Open match against Serena Williams underlined Sania Mirza’s potential as a
women’s singles player. Her next big match was against Russia’s Svetlana
Kuznetsova at the Dubai Open later that year and this time, she won the match.

Pitted against
the reigning US Open champion and then world No. 7 in the quarter-final, Sania
Mirza was in trouble early on. Playing with an ankle injury, the youngster
trailed 4-0 and she was on the verge of retiring.

Also Read: Spiderman cheering for us: Sania Mirza poses with son at Wimbledon 2021

But from there
she staged a fightback. Sania Mirza conquered pain to take the next six games
and the set. She continued her momentum in the second, winning it 6-2 and
producing a huge upset.

Nerves of steel

Sania Mirza won
her first-ever Grand Slam in 2009, winning the Australian Open mixed doubles
title with Mahesh Bhupathi. The duo also claimed the French Open mixed doubles
title three years later.

Also Read: Wimbledon 2021: Sania Mirza advances to women’s double second round

However, it was
her triumph at the 2014 US Open mixed doubles final partnering Brazilian Bruno
Soares which stands out as Sania Mirza’s best from her career in mixed doubles.

Having shifted
her focus entirely to doubles from 2013 owing to a recurring wrist injury,
Sania Mirza was on the lookout for a big win.

Also Read: To many years of irritating you: Sania Mirza’s anniversary post for husband Shoaib Malik

Playing together
for the first time, it was a tough tournament for the Indo-Brazilian but they
clinched the Grand Slam title. 

“Hopefully
wins like these inspire people to pick up tennis racquets. In India, cricket is
like a religion but I think people believe now that you can also be a tennis
player and succeed,” Sania pointed out.

Also Read: Taapsee Pannu gets another biopic, set to play Tennis ace Sania Mirza

Winning the Wimbledon

Snapping ties
with her long-time women’s doubles partner Cara Black after winning the WTA
Finals in 2014, Sania Mirza teamed up with Swiss legend Martina Hingis in 2015
ushering in the Santina era.

The Indo-Swiss
duo, over the course of the next year, went on to win three Grand Slams. The
first, at Wimbledon 2015, however, was a special one. Sania Mirza and Martina
Hingis beat Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-6, 7-5 to win the 2015
Wimbledon women’s doubles Grand Slam.

Also Read: Sania Mirza crashes out of Dubai International Tennis Championship

New innings

Sania enjoyed a
stellar season in 2015 when she won the US Open and WTA Finals with Hingis
before starting off 2016 with an Australian Open doubles title. A quarter-final
run at the 2016 Rio Olympics with mixed doubles partner Rohan Bopanna followed.

However, after a
split with Hingis and several injuries, the Indian ace had a quiet couple of
years before going on a maternity break from April 2018.

Also Read: Australian Open: Top 5 contenders for women’s singles Grand Slam

After giving
birth to son Izhaan Mirza Malik, the ace Indian tennis player marked a triumphant return to
the court at the Hobart International 2020, winning the doubles title with
Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok.

Despite showing
some signs of rust early in the tournament, Sania Mirza went from strength to
strength as the tournament progressed and beat the Chinese team of Zhang Shuai
and Peng Shuai in straight games 6-4, 6-4.