Australian Open 2023: Want to win whether or not it’s my last Slam, says Sania Mirza after mixed doubles final berth

Sania Mirza said that ‘competitiveness is in my blood’ and she prefers giving it her all regardless of the match she is playing in.

On Wednesday, January 25, Mirza and Rohan Bopanna advanced to the final of the mixed doubles in the Australian Open 2023 after beating Neal Skupski and Desirae Krawczyk 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 10-6 in the semis at Margaret Court Arena.

Earlier, the 36-year-old Sania, also a mother of a four-year-old child, said that she would be quitting playing Grand Slams after the hard-court tournament at Melbourne Park.

The veteran has a chance to bow out on a high when she and Bopanna face the Brazilian pair of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the final on Saturday, January 28 at the Rod Laver Arena.

“I play every match trying to win, whether it’s my last tournament or my last Slam or my first Slam. For me, competitiveness is in my blood,” Sania was quoted as saying after the match.

“Every time I step on the court, I want to win regardless of whether it’s going to be my last Slam, whether it’s my last season…,” she stated.

“It’s special in many ways. It’s emotional in many ways. The approach to every match remains the same, the same professionalism, warm-up, routine, sort of will to win. That doesn’t really change,” Sania added.

Sania also spoke about how she started playing alongside Bopanna when she was in her teenage days.

“It’s my last Slam and it’s so special to play with Rohan. He was my first mixed doubles partner when I was 14 and today I’m 36 and he is 42 and we are still playing, we have a solid relationship,” Sania said.