Sania Mirza, who is competing in her final Grand Slam event of her career, advanced to the Australian Open mixed doubles final with fellow countryman Rohan Bopanna in Melbourne on Wednesday. In a semifinal match that lasted an hour and 52 minutes, the unseeded Indian duo defeated third seeds Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 10-6.
After sharing the first set, the Indians quickly took control of the Super Tie-breaker. Sania won the match with a brilliant backhand winner that gave her three match points. She then finished the match with a drive volley that Krawczyk was unable to return.
The legendary pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna are just one win away from the Australian Open mixed doubles title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/iRwTATr3lQ
— Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) January 25, 2023
After the match Sania said “A lot of nerves were present during this incredible battle. Playing alongside Rohan on my final slam is truly special. When I was 14 years old, he was my first mixed doubles partner; now that I’m 36 and he’s 42, we’re still playing, and we have a strong relationship.
We are eager to return here and give ourselves another chance. We had to put our best foot forward because we were competing against the finest mixed doubles team on the Tour, she remarked of the competing players from the USA and England.
The WTA tournament in Dubai in February will be Sania’s final match, she has said.
