Sania Mirza, the 6 Grand Slam title winner bids emotional farewell

Digital Desk: Sania Mirza's career will finish with six Grand Slam titles after failing to win the Australian Open mixed doubles crown with compatriot Rohan Bopanna on Friday in Melbourne. 

In the final at Rod Laver Arena, unseeded Bopanna and Sania were defeated 6-7(2) 2-6 by the Brazilian duo of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Mataos. 

Notably, Mirza, who has six Grand Slam doubles titles — three in mixed, including the 2009 Australian Open — will retire after a tournament in Dubai next month.

Mirza shed 'happy tears' while addressing the crowd at Rod Laver Arena following her loss in the final. 

"Disclaimer: I cry happy tears, not sad tears. "I don't want to take away Matos-moment Stefani's because he deserved it," Mirza remarked after the match.

"I'm still going to play a few more tournaments, but my professional career began in Melbourne in 2005, when I played Serena Williams in the third round as an 18-year-old," she added. "I've had the opportunity of returning here time and time again, winning tournaments and competing in amazing finals... Rod Laver Arena has had a particular place in my heart. I couldn't imagine of a finer place to complete my Grand Slam career."

Meanwhile, 42-year-old Bopanna, who has one French Open mixed doubles championship to his record, added, "It's extremely amazing for me to play with Sania. We won our first mixed doubles competition together when she was 14 years old. Today is the final Grand Slam match in Rod Laver Arena. Unfortunately, we did not win the championship, but we appreciate everything you've done for Indian tennis." 

"Not only Indian tennis, but motivating each and every one throughout the world for playing tennis at the greatest level for so many, so many years. It demonstrates your dedication and hard effort from start to finish. Congratulations on a wonderful career."

Mirza, who gave birth to son, Izhaan, in 2018 and returned to the tour in 2020, winning the first event of her comeback partnered Nadiia Kichenok, said having her child in the audience for her final major match was a 'really precious' memories she'd never forget. 

"I never thought I'd be able to play in a Grand Slam final in front of my child, so it's extremely special for me to have my 4-year-old here, my parents here," Mirza said, thanking everyone who helped her career.

Regarding the match, the Brazilian combination seized a 3-0 lead in the tiebreaker, and Mirza and Bopanna fought back to 3-2, but it was to be the Indian combo's final point. They missed two consecutive overheads, including Mirza's shot into the net on set point. 

Stefani and Matos broke Mirza's serve to go up 3-1 in the fourth game of the second set, with the break point coming after a lengthy exchange between the teams. 

Stefani and Matos have won all seven of their matches together in the United Cup and at Melbourne Park.