For 18 long years she has defied odds. Broken stereotypes and inspired generations. So how does she look back at a career unrivalled. Here is Sania Mirza in a candid, no holds barred conversation with Boria Majumdar.
Boria- We can’t come to terms with the fact that we won’t see you again on court after this tournament. Why did you retire? Someone who has just played the final of a slam clearly has the game? Why give up?
Sania- You know me well enough to know I am headstrong. For me it is always about people asking me why did you retire rather than asking me why are you retiring? I will give up when I know I can still win big matches. I absolutely have the game. I have just made a Grand Slam final so clearly I can compete. I belong to that level still. However the process that I have to follow to belong to that level is getting tougher and tougher. The effort that is required to stay at the top isn’t easy. That’s where I am not convinced I can keep giving that effort day in and day out. That’s where things have become difficult. And it is always better to give up rather than hold on or try to push things. That’s what explains the decision.
Boria- How do you look back at the journey. Surreal isn’t it. 6 Slams. 41 straight doubles wins. World number 1. Number 27 in singles. It has been an incredible career. And from where you came from with very little facilities made it even more special.
. @MirzaSania speaks to RevSportz soon after finishing her last match @Charudutta75 . #ThankYouSania #SaniaMirza pic.twitter.com/W19kzltXyZ
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) February 21, 2023
Sania- See if someone came up to me and my family some 30 years back and said this is what will happen I’d have laughed out aloud and say don’t be mad. So yes it is very satisfying. Having said that I would have loved to win more slams, make the 6 go up to 12, play more finals and keep winning. That’s why you play sport. That’s what keeps you going. What is more important is what tennis has given me. It has allowed me to make change. Help people in the process. Inspire and make a difference to people’s lives. That’s far more important in the long run. If I can continue doing so I’d say the career was immensely satisfying for it is because of my tennis that I am today in this position of privilege. I can help make the world a slightly better place.
Boria- When you shed the 26 kilos of pregnancy fat you inspired a legion of women. You weren’t a sportsperson. You were an inspiration. A symbol of self respect and belief. Clearly you did not need to do so. You had nothing to prove anything to anyone and yet you did. Why?
Sania- I did because I wanted to. I did for every woman out there who felt with motherhood their careers came to an end. They needed to know they can. Each one of us can. Motherhood isn’t the end of the road for anyone. In fact, it is the start of a new journey. You can continue with your life the exact same way even after you had a child. That’s what I wanted to prove. In Melbourne when my son ran onto the court and was in my arms I think the message was conveyed. I got millions of messages after that. Each mother felt inspired. That’s what gives me joy. I am not just here to play tennis or win or lose. There is much more to life than tennis and these things are far more important. That’s why I played the sport and if I have been able to influence even a single woman I consider that to be an achievement of mine.
She came, she conquered people’s hearts..she changed the way people perceive #tennis in our country. Then she went on to change the way people look at motherhood. Here’s celebrating #SaniaMirza’s inspirational career and wishing her all the best for her future endeavours pic.twitter.com/ZQnzZvvlXG
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) February 21, 2023
Boria- So many memories, so many wins, so many memorable performances. Can you single one out?
Sania- It is impossible to do so but if I am forced I will single out the 2015 Wimbledon win. It meant the world to me. Winning at Wimbledon was always something I wanted to do and win my first women’s doubles slam at Wimbledon was a dream come true. And for Indian tennis, it was a milestone.
Down a set, we won a really hard fought tie-break to level the contest a set apiece. However, within minutes in the third set we were a break down. And then in a Elena Vesnina service game we had three break points but failed to convert them. That’s when many thought that the match might well have slipped out of our hands. Makarova was dominating the nets and Vesnina was all pumped up. That’s when we needed to dig deep, show unprecedented resolve and determination and most importantly, show nerves of steel. By then I had started to take the lead. I did not want to give up. And then just minutes before the Chair Umpire stopped play to bring in the roof at 9 PM local time, we had equalised at 5-5. This was after we were down 2-5 and were a game away from losing the title.