Sania Mirza on her plans after retirement: I'd love to help the next generation

Indian tennis great Sania Mirza shed light on her plans after retiring from professional tennis and said she would like to help the next generation of Indian tennis players. Ahead of the 2023 Australian Open, Mirza has confirmed that this will be her last Grand Slam appearance. Mirza said she would like to help the next generation after her retirement from the sport. “In all honesty, I would love to help the next generation. We all talk about how we don’t have a system, we don’t have idols, we don’t have champions that we can emulate. And I want to help in any way possible,” said Mirza.

She said she would like to encourage and help young players in any way possible. The 36-year-old reached the mixed doubles final of the 2023 Australian Open alongside Rohan Bopanna and won six Grand Slam titles in her career. “Actually, as we speak, Karman Thandi is practicing in my academy. She just messaged me a few days ago, she is here with her coach and her trainers. I would love to do things like that. I would love to encourage and help in any way possible,” Mirza added.

Speaking about her farewell speech after the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open, Mirza said her emotions were raw and real, adding that she was grateful to end her Grand Slam journey in the final. “I don’t really show too much emotion, even when I play, win or lose. I am usually quite in control of my emotions, which I wasn’t that day. That day it was all raw and real. It was just so emotional, the last couple of weeks just playing there. It was the last time I was going to compete in a Grand Slam and I was just so grateful that I was going to finish my Grand Slam journey by playing in a final,” said Mirza.

Mirza became the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title when she won her home event in Hyderabad in 2005. In 2007, she broke into the top 30 and reached her career-high of world number 27 in women's singles competitions.