Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has won the Hobart International women’s doubles title along with Nadia Kichenok of Ukraine. Sania, who returned to the tennis court after becoming a mother, has played brilliantly to make it a dream comeback at the Hobart International.
Sania, along with Nadia Kichenok, defeated the pair of Zhang Shuai and Peng Shuai 6-4 6-4 in an hour and 21 minutes match to clinch the Hobart International title. This is the 42nd WTA doubles title of Sania‘s career.
Sania and Nadia broke the Chinese players’ service in the first game itself but lost the service in the next game. After 4-4, there was a close contest between the two pairs. Sania and Nadia got breakpoints in the ninth game after which they easily took the first set.
The Chinese pair did not play well at the start of the second set and lost serve in the third game. They, however, returned again with a breakpoint. Sania and Nadia then broke the Chinese pair’s serve in the ninth game and saved their serve in the next game to clinch the doubles title.
Mirza was away two years of tennis after becoming a mother. Sania, who married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, gave birth to Izhaan in 2018. She played the last tournament in October 2017. Sania, who has taken Indian tennis to new heights, has been number one in doubles and is a six-time Grand Slam winner.
She quit playing solo tennis in 2013. She reached 27th place in the WTA singles rankings in 2007. She has battled wrist and knee injuries continuously throughout her career.