It was important for me to leave on my own terms: Sania Mirza on her retirement – Times of India

Sania Mirza, who ended her Grand Slam career last month when she teamed up with Rohan Bopanna and became the runners-up in mixed doubles at the Australian Open, will be playing her last tournament as a professional tennis player in Dubai. In a quick chat with Ahmedabad Times, Sania spoke about why she chose to retire at the top of her game, what made the Martina Hingis-Sania Mirza women’s doubles team so formidable (they won three Grand Slams together), the challenges of being a working mom to her four-year-old son Izhaan and more.
You broke down after the Australian Open final. What was going through your mind? Did you always want to retire while still on the top of your game?

After the Australian Open final, I was going through so many emotions that it would be very difficult for me to express it in a few words. I felt really overwhelmed to finish my Grand Slam career at the Australian Open, one of the greatest stages for a tennis player and the place where it all started for me. At that moment, I just felt grateful for everything that I have been able to achieve. Also, I had never thought that I would be playing a Grand Slam final in front of my son (Izhaan) one day. So, it was a truly special occasion. As for retirement, there were no second thoughts and I always wanted to retire when I was still on the top of my game. It was important for me to leave on my own terms.
How do you look back at your professional journey, and how would Sania Mirza like to be remembered?

It has been an incredible journey. While I was growing up as a young girl, we didn’t really have any women tennis players in India to look up to. Steffi Graf was my role model and I just loved watching her play. When I started playing tennis at the age of six, if somebody had told me that I would be the world number one (in women’s doubles) in my sport, win Grand Slam titles as well as medals for my country, I would have taken it with both hands. While people should remember all these achievements, I also want them to think of me as someone who was always true to herself. I want to be remembered as someone who tried to do the right things and always stood up for what was right, be it on the tennis court or outside it.

How challenging was it for you to balance such a competitive sport and motherhood?

Life is all about pushing the boundaries and finding the right balance. I am grateful for having such a supportive family, team and friends who have helped me in this journey. One of the reasons why I made a comeback to competitive tennis after motherhood was that I wanted to set an example for all the wonderful working moms. I wanted to show that life doesn’t get over just because you become a mother. A mother can still follow her own dreams and balance everything.

Post retirement, what are you looking forward to the most?

(Laughs) It would be fun to wake up without my alarm clock going off!

Ankita Raina, who hails from Ahmedabad, has always spoken about how you have inspired her. Your thoughts on her as a player?

We have spent time together while both of us were part of Team India during the Fed Cup, and she has also spent time at my house in Dubai. Ankita is a very hardworking and disciplined girl and has all the right qualities that are required in a good tennis player. Hopefully, she can make the next big jump soon and do well for the country at the highest level.

What message would you like to give to our new generation of women athletes?

They should never let anyone tell them that they can’t achieve something. No matter how many odds are against you, and whether someone before you has done it or not, always back your abilities and believe in yourselves.

Is Izhaan inclined towards tennis too?

He loves playing all kinds of sports and it keeps changing every week. He loves playing football, tennis, and swimming. Right now, it seems he is in love with badminton!

What made the Martina Hingis-Sania Mirza pair so successful?

I think both of us were able to consolidate each other’s strengths and we were good at hiding each other’s weaknesses. We combined well together and the fact that we got along well even off the court also helped.

Apart from honing their skills, how important is it for young sportspersons to focus on mental training?

Young sportspersons need to be aware of who they are and what they need. The kind of emotional and mental strain it takes to become a professional athlete is immense and there is a lot of pressure. So, one must be aware and seek help from people who can put things into perspective. I would love to tell young athletes to believe in themselves because sometimes, that self-belief is lacking. At times, you must be your own biggest cheerleader.

There have been times when you have been targeted by trolls. Did it ever bother you?

No, it has never bothered me. In fact, trolls are so irrelevant to me that I don’t even like to acknowledge them.