After failing to win the Australian Open mixed doubles trophy with her partner Rohan Bopanna on Friday, former World No. 1 Sania Mirza will end her career with six Grand Slam titles.
Sania-Bopanna duo lost to Brazilian Lusia Stefani-Rafael Mataos in the final at Rod Laver Arena by 6-7 (2), 2-6.
Stefani and Matos took a lead of 3-0 in the tiebreaker. Though the Indian duo fought back to 3-2, they could not score further with two missed overheads in a row.
Stefani and Matos became the first ever Brazilian duo to win the mixed doubles crown in Melbourne.
During the presentation ceremony, Mirza got emotional and said that she had started her professional journey here in Melbourne in 2005.
“My professional career started in Melbourne… I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my [Grand Slam] career at.”
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2023
We love you, Sania ❤️@MirzaSania • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/E0dNogh1d0
Mirza won the mixed doubles crown in Melbourne with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2009. She also won five more Grand Slams, of which two of them were in mixed doubles.
For Sania it was the 11th Grand Slam final, she has won 43 doubles titles and was the former World No. 1 in women's boubles career.
Bopanna has one French Open mixed double title to his credit. He was playing his fourth Grand Slam final.
