First, the disclaimer: “If I cry, these are comfortable tears, not unhappy tears.”
Sania Mirza did cry, and though it wasn’t whereas holding the piece of silverware she would have hoped for, it was no much less emotional.
A Grand Slam journey that started at Melbourne Park with an 18-year-old trailblazing expertise battling Serena Williams within the singles third spherical of the 2005 Australian Open ended with the 36-year-old long-shining star signing off as a Grand Slam finalist on the identical courts.
The Brazilian pair of Rafael Matos and Luisa Stefani stood in the way in which of Mirza’s fairy story Slam swansong, beating Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 7-6(2), 6-2 within the combined doubles remaining on the Rod Laver Area on Friday.
Mirza will nonetheless play a few tournaments on the WTA tour earlier than the ultimate cease to her storied profession in Dubai subsequent month however, along with her first ever combined doubles accomplice by her aspect and her mother and father and son Izhaan watching on from the stands, the farewell feels got here dashing out for Mirza.
“I by no means thought I’ll have the ability to play a Grand Slam remaining in entrance of my youngster,” Mirza, wiping away tears, stated on court docket. “It’s really particular for me. There’s no higher place and individual for me to complete my Grand Slam profession with.”
That individual, her shut good friend and first accomplice from 22 years in the past in a nationwide match, additionally spoke in regards to the “particular” second of taking part in the ultimate after teaming up with Mirza for her final Slam. “In the present day we get to play your final match collectively in a Slam,” Bopanna stated, Mirza. “Thanks a lot for all you’ve completed for Indian tennis. Not solely Indian tennis however inspiring everybody all world wide. Congrats for a incredible profession.”
That profession consists of six Grand Slam titles, the primary of which was a combined doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi on the 2009 Australian Open and the final a doubles crown with Martina Hingis on the 2016 Australian Open. The previous doubles world No 1, coming back from her maternity break in 2020, was to finish her Slam rely on the US Open final 12 months however an damage compelled Mirza to push issues to the Australian Open. Maybe fittingly so, given her reminiscences of the Slam, her accomplice by the aspect and the run to the ultimate.
Strolling out on court docket sporting huge smiles on a sunny Melbourne Friday afternoon, it wasn’t the brightest of begins by the Indians. The ever-so-solid Bopanna serve was damaged within the very first sport when his forehand sailed lengthy. Whereas Bopanna was lacking quite a lot of balls early Mirza was largely stable on her racquet. A scorching forehand return by her on the Stefani serve adopted by a fortunate web chord for a backhand return winner introduced the Indians on ranges phrases within the fourth sport.
That famed Mirza forehand can, clearly, nonetheless do all of the speaking, be it in a finely-angled crosscourt winner previous Stefani that introduced out the stare from her or a power-packed punch that introduced Matos to his knees.
The Indian duo was again, and so was the Bopanna function he held to like with Mirza equally medical in her volleys on the web. A backhand up the road return winner by Bopanna and one other ferocious return from Mirza broke the under-pressure Stefani serve as soon as once more. However, serving for the set at 5-3, Bopanna’s largest weapon faltered once more even because the left-handed Matos stood tall on the baseline.
A uncommon Mirza forehand crashing on the web noticed a set level come and go for the Indians, who each littered errors within the tiebreaker starting with a Bopanna double fault.
Driving the momentum, the Brazilians have been everywhere in the Indians within the second set. They earned the break within the fourth sport after Matos received a prolonged forehand back-and-forth with Mirza. With neither Bopanna nor Mirza in a position to conjure up some particular person or collective magic, the Brazilians didn’t even have to serve for the title, clinically ending issues off on the Mirza serve.
The final dance on the Slam stage completed, the ultimate act of the cherished profession beckons.