Sania Mirza reflects on retirement after final outing in Dubai

Sania Mirza, who made her first professional appearance in Dubai in 2005, was in a reflective mood following her decision to retire after a final outing in this week’s doubles draw at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. “I knew last year I would stop soon and I’m just excited to be back in Dubai to end here,” said the Indian icon. Mirza will be playing her last tournament as a professional tennis player in Dubai this week. The WTA 1000 event, which takes place at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium runs until February 25. “It seems a long time ago – 18 years – that a lot of amazing things started for me right here, so I can’t think of a better place to finish my career,” Mirza said. She was the 2013 women’s doubles tournament champion. “Dubai’s been my home away from home for so many years, but now it really is my home. I’ll miss the competition, walking on to big courts and winning. It’s very difficult to replace that in any other walk of life, but my priorities are different now and I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life,” she said. Mirza has a four-year-old son, Izhaan. A former doubles world No. 1, Mirza won six major titles – three in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. From 2003 until her retirement from singles in 2013, she was ranked by the Women's Tennis Association as the Indian No. 1 in singles. ICA/Expat Media
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