Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza has confirmed her return to competitive tennis at Hobart International in January 2020, two years after taking a maternity break. Wife of Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, Mirza last played at China Open in October 2017. In the Hobart International, she will be squaring off against Ukraine’s Nadiia Kichenok, the current world number 38.
The 33-year-old gave birth to her and Malik’s first son, Izhaan, in October last year.
“I am playing in Hobart, then I am playing the Australian Open. I am planning to play a tournament in Mumbai, which is a USD 25,000 (ITF women event) next month, but I am 50-50 about it, so let’s see how my wrist behaves. We will see, but Hobart and Australian Open (for sure),” she said at a press conference.
The winner of six grand slam titles also said that she is back to her best shape, explaining how the body undergoes a lot of changes after delivering a child.
“There are a lot of changes when you have a baby. Your routine and sleep pattern changes. I (now) feel fit, my body is where it used to be before I had the baby. It was only six-seven months ago, where I thought about it as a realistic possibility,” she said.
She also talked about her recent illness and how that caused wrist-pain, which can impact a tennis player’s career drastically.
“Three months ago I got this virus Chikungunya, that was a setback because for two weeks I was sick. I have left wrist pain out of the blue, because of this virus and it can last up to three months to one year. All and all I feel good, today I can tell you that I am ready to compete again. Of course, it will take me time to the level that I was playing (before), but it is good start for me to feel good physically,” she said.
A former World No.1 in the doubles discipline, Sania Mirza is by far the most successful Indian tennis player India has ever had. She is the highest-ranked female player from the country and had also peaked at world No. 27 in mid-2007. Her return to competitive tennis is highly anticipated.