# Indian Tennis legend Sania Mirza announces 2022 season will be her last

URL: https://technosports.co.in/sania-mirza-2022-season-her-last/  
Published: 2022-01-20  
Updated: 2022-01-20  
Author: Arsh Das

Indian tennis icon Sania Mirza has announced that the 2022 season will be her last one before she retires. The 35-year-old revealed the decision after her first round loss at the [Australian Open](https://technosports.co.in/2022/01/17/novak-djokovic-deported-fr-australia/). 

“I’ve decided that this will be my last season. I’m taking it week by week. Not sure if I can last the season, but I want to,” the 35-year-old said at the post-match [press conference](https://www.espn.in/tennis/story/_/id/33098088/sania-mirza-australian-open-2022-decided-be-my-last-season). 

“I do feel my recovery is taking longer, I’m putting my 3-year-old son at risk by travelling so much with him, that’s something I have to take into account. I think my body is wearing down,” she said after her match.

> She took Indian 🎾 to newer heights, & now [@MirzaSania](https://twitter.com/MirzaSania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is ready for one last show! 🥺  
>   
> Tell us your favourite [#SaniaMirza](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaniaMirza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) moment below.[#Tennis](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tennis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [#SaniaMirzaRetirement](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaniaMirzaRetirement?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/3K9EtIyiU0](https://t.co/3K9EtIyiU0)
>
> — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) [January 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1483802077017288706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“Also, for me to find that motivation every day to come out, the energy is not the same anymore. There are more days than there used to be where I don’t feel like doing that… 

## Australian Open loss didn’t decide for Sania Mirza 

Sania Mirza, seeded 12th with Nadiia Kichenok, lost to the duo of Kaja Juvan and Tamara Zidansek 4-6, 6-7 (5). The loss in the opening round didn’t trigger the decision for her, and she had decided to go out on her own terms, just like the entirety of her career. 

> [#SaniaMirza](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaniaMirza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), the most successful woman in Indian tennis history, decides that she is bidding adieu to sports at the end of 2022.  
>   
> 35-year-old had already bowed out of singles competitions in 2013. [@MirzaSania](https://twitter.com/MirzaSania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) has 6 Grand Slam titles in women's doubles & mixed doubles to her name. [pic.twitter.com/OHFoXcFn83](https://t.co/OHFoXcFn83)
>
> — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) [January 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/airnewsalerts/status/1483779441457496066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Mirza is the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam, and has won majors in doubles along with medals at Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. She is a former world number 1 in doubles and has achieved a career-high ranking of 27 in singles competition. 

Her last title came in September 2021, after she returned from a career break, winning the Ostrava Open with Shuai Zhang.