'Thank you for inspiring millions': World salutes tennis queen Sania Mirza

NEW DELHI: Social media platforms were flooded with emotional messages and salutations for India's tennis queen Sania Mirza, after she said a final goodbye to her Grand Slam career on Friday in Melbourne.

The 36-year-old Sania was competing in her final Grand Slam and after a second round defeat in the women's doubles made it all the way to the final of the mixed doubles with her partner Rohan Bopanna. But the Indian pair was defeated 6-7, 2-6 in the summit clash by Brazil's Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the title clash in the Australian Open mixed doubles final at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

1/10:Sania Mirza's Grand Slam titles

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2/10:​Sania Mirza

<p>Sania Mirza ended her career with six Grand Slam titles after failing to win the Australian Open mixed doubles trophy with Rohan Bopanna. </p>Getty Images

3/10:Sania and Bopanna

<p>Sania and Bopanna lost 6-7(2), 2-6 to Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Mataos in the final at Rod Laver Arena. </p>AFP

4/10:Six Grand Slam titles

<p>Coming into her final Major tournament, Sania had three women's doubles and as many mixed doubles trophies in her cabinet. </p>AFP

5/10:Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi

<p>Out of Sania's six Grand Slams title, three are mixed doubles trophies two of which she won with Mahesh Bhupathi. </p>Getty Images

6/10:​Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis

<p>Sania's all three women's doubles titles came with Swiss great Martina Hingis. </p>Getty Images

7/10:2009 Australian Open

<p>In 2009, Sania picked up her first Australian Open mixed doubles Grand Slam title. </p>TNN

8/10:Victory Down Under

<p>Partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania beat Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram in the final.</p>Getty Images

9/10:2012 French Open

<p>Sania and Bhupathi won the 2012 French Open mixed doubles crown.</p>Getty Images

10/10:Roland Garros

<p>Sania and Bhupathi defeated Santiago González of Mexico and Klaudia Jans-Ignacik of Poland.</p>Getty Images

Sania Mirza's Grand Slam titles

Sania, who has won six Grand Slam doubles titles, will retire next month after playing the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Here are some of the messages that Sania received on social media after she brought the curtain down on her Grand Slam career at the same venue where she first played a Grand Slam match, way back in 2005.