Sania Mirza feels ready to make a comeback in January
The six-time Grand Slam champion and the winner of 41 WTA doubles titles, Sania Mirza had to miss the last two seasons after giving birth to a son Izhaan in October 2018. A former world no. 1 and the conqueror of three different Majors in both doubles and mixed doubles was the dominant figure on the Tour in 2015 and 2016 with Martina Hingis before starting to compete with various partners in 2017, winning the crown in Brisbane with Bethanie Mattek-Sands and reaching the latter stages in Sydney, Doha, Dubai and Miami with Barbora Strycova.
Paired with Shuai Peng, Mirza was the semi-finalist at the US Open, Wuhan and Beijing, her last tournaments before taking a break and focusing on her pregnancy. In December last year, Sania said she wants to make a return at the end of 2019 but that didn't happen, with the Indian targeting the beginning of 2020 and the Australian swing as a possible return date, feeling ready to play competitive matches. The injury-prone player wants to do everything right at the age of 33 and make the best possible moves to compete at her best again and extend a career. Mirza has been working hard on her physical shape, untroubled by big expectations, targets and goals, saying that every notable result would be a bonus and mentioning the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the event she is looking for.
"I started training earlier this month and would be ready in time for the Australian Open. I have not played professional tennis for nearly two years so I'm looking for a good comeback," Mirza said. "Sourav invited my family and me personally, not only for this Test but for a felicitation too. It is great to be a part of something so historic. I have known Sourav for a long time and there was no question of saying no. I love the electrifying atmosphere. People of Calcutta are known for their love for the sport and I'm a big fan of cricket. As a fan, I can see how this new concept can work in the evening with people coming from work and watching. And everything at night is better usually. It is more dramatic. I also dressed up in pink to match the occasion. Virat is my favorite, he is the whole country's favorite, isn't he? I like to watch my husband Shoaib Malik playing too."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Ofofux
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