‘My body is beat’: Sania Mirza says 2022 season is her last | Tennis News – Times of India

The 2022 tennis season is likely to be Sania Mirza‘s last. The 35-year-old comeback mom pegged her decision on injuries, a missing spark and her three-year-old son Izhaan, who is of school-going age.
The former world No.1 dropped the bombshell rather casually during a post-match press-conference at the Australian Open.
“I’m pretty sure that this is my last season, if I do finish it,” she added as an afterthought. “I’m not going to be back in Australia to play the Australian Open again.”
“I have had some great memories, great results in singles, doubles and mixed-doubles here. I have been able to do that over 20 years of my career (from 2001). It has been a great journey for me,” she said. “I’m literally taking it one tournament at a time, going week to week with my body, the virus, the travel. There is so much uncertainty.”
The Indian superstar, who crashed out of the first round of the women’s doubles, playing with Ukraine’s Nadiia Kichenok, will feature in the mixed-doubles on Thursday alongside Indian-American Rajeev Ram.
“Every time I play I think I have a chance to win, that’s why I’m here,” she said. “If this is my last Grand Slam, it is a great way to go, to play with someone who I have known since I was 12. We’ll have fun on the court.”
Sania, winner of six Grand Slam titles, doubles and mixed, and ranked No.1 for 91 weeks, said the plan was to play until the US Open in August.
“I want to finish the season, I’m ranked 60-70 in the world and I played only nine tournaments last year. I have the level to play, it’s not about level. I still feel I can go deep into tournaments,” she said, “But my body, I have a meniscus issue going on. I woke up with a wrist pain a couple days ago. At 35 I’m waking up with issues which I don’t know where they are coming from. My recovery is taking longer.”
“Also, I’m putting my son at risk by traveling so much with him,” the Hyderabadi said. “This pandemic is making us take decisions based on the well-being of our families.”
In the winter of a celebrated career the Indian is running on reserve.
“For me to find that motivation every single day, the energy is not the same any more. Right this moment it is there, but there are days, and there are more days now than there used to be, when I don’t feel like doing it,” she explained. “I’ve always said that I want to play tennis until I enjoy that grind. I’m not sure If I’m enjoying it as much anymore.”
“I still want to play the season,” she reiterated. “I have worked very hard to come back, to get fit, lose all that weight and set an example for mothers, to follow their dreams as much as they can.”