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The Times of India
The Times of India
Sport
TIMESOFINDIA.COM

WATCH: Sania Mirza bids emotional farewell to Grand Slams

NEW DELHI: India's tennis icon Sania Mirza was visibly and understandably emotional at the trophy presentation at the Road Laver Arena on Friday after the Mixed Doubles final.

This was Sania's last career appearance at a Grand Slam. The tennis legend bids adieu with 6 Grand Slam titles on her resume.

Sania and Rohan Bopanna lost 6-7, 2-6 to the Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the Mixed Doubles final played at the Rod Laver Arena early Friday morning India time.

1/10:Sania Mirza's Grand Slam titles

Getty Images

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

Interestingly, as Sania herself pointed out after their semi-final win, Bopanna was her first Mixed Doubles partner when she was just 14. Sania is currently 36 and Bopanna is 42.

Sania, who has won six Grand Slam doubles championships — three in mixed, including the 2009 Australian Open — will, according to reports, retire next month after a tournament in Dubai.

“Disclaimer, if I cry it is happy tears," Sania said. “I don’t want to take away the moment from Matos-Stefani who deserved this."

Sania's Grand Slam journey began and ended in Melbourne.

The 36-year-old first appeared at a Grand Slam 18 years ago in Melbourne, when she was beaten, in the singles draw, by the 2005 champion Serena Williams in a third-round match.

“I’ve had the privilege to come back here again and again, and win some tournaments and play some great finals...Rod Laver Arena has really been special in my life and I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my career at a Grand Slam,” Sania further said.

“It’s truly special for me to play along with Sania,” the 42-year-old Bopanna said. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get the title, but thank you so much for what you have done for Indian tennis.”

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