Hundreds, including several fellow athletes, politicians, and movie stars turned up for the retirement of the winner of six Grand Slam titles.
Sania Mirza retires in Hyderabad. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
While playing in Hyderabad’s Mallepally, a teenaged Sania Mirza would have hardly thought that two decades later she would hear the chant “We love you, Sania, you are the inspiration” at her farewell match.
Yet, that’s how electric the atmosphere was at her retirement on her home turf on Sunday, 5 March, at the LB Stadium.
It ended where it all began at the same court for the veteran Indian lawn tennis player in the early 2000s.
Tennis fans started gathering at 9.30 am at the Sports Authority of Telangana State (SATS) facility for Mirza’s retirement game.
At the farewell event, named “Game, set and celebrate”, the 36-year-old Sania was featured alongside tennis buddies Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Rohan Bopanna, Ivan Dodig, Marion Bartoli, and Cara Black.
All of them were connected with microphones to communicate amongst themselves as well as the spectators.
To fans’ surprise, cricketer Yuvraj Singh also showed his tennis skills on the court, while rapper MC Stan performed a few of his tracks.
While it was all-around tennis in the first game, Mirza and Dodig faced Yuvraj and Sands in the second game. The last game saw the long-time duo of Mirza and Bopanna against Dodig and Black.
#Telangana: After an exciting session of #tennis games, Indian #sports legend #SaniaMirza received a grand reception from her family, fellow players & fans in #hyderbad.
IT Minister @KTRBRS was also present @TheSouthfirst #KTR pic.twitter.com/8tCMFj0VmX
— Ajay Tomar (@ajaytomarasks) March 5, 2023
After the three-game sessions at the farewell match and the playing of Slumdog Millionaire’s “Jai Ho” track and AR Rahman’s patriotism-instilling Maa Tujhe Salaam, Sania Mirza referred to her “happy tears” and addressed the crowd at the presentation ceremony.
Minister KTR and V Srinivas Goud felicitating Sania Mirza at her retirement in Hyderabad. (Supplied)
“I come from a time when nobody believed in me. My parents and sister made me who I am today. No matter if I retire, I will always continue to be a part of Telangana and its sports for many more years. Hope we have many more Sanias in future,” the six-time Grand Slam title winner said.
All this while, her supporters cheered, clapped, and whistled in support.
Her father Imran Mirza told South First: “It was a bit emotional, but we have achieved what we set out to do.”
Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao congratulated Sania and noted that Indian tennis needed more athletes.
“I hope Sania sets up a factory of sportspersons,” the hopeful BRS leader said.
Among the other dignitaries at Sania’s retirement event were Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Malayalam movie star Dulquer Salman, Telangana Sports Minister Srinivas Goud, and Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar.
On Sunday, hundreds of girls from Class 9 to 12 from Nasr’ Girls School — Sania Mirza’s alma mater — in Khairatabad could be seen sitting on the far end of the stadium for her farewell match.
Nasr school girls supporting Sania Mirza during her retirement in Hyderabad. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
“What’s better than watching Sania Mirza in Hyderabad!” an elated 10th-grade student, Nysa Sharm (14), told South First.
The girls could be seen roaring in support of Sania and displaying posters.
“I saw her on TV playing in this year’s Australian Open. But I want to see her playing style from the courtside,” enthusiastic 8th grader Vangete Kshtra Reddy (13) told South First.
The Nasr school girls were accompanied by their sports teachers P Sailaja and Laeeq Unisa.
during Sania Mirza’s farewell match in Hyderabad. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
When Unisa joined the school, Sania was still in sixth grade.
“When we saw her, her legs were very strong. So we directly recommended her for tennis coaching,” Unisa recollected.
“She started at the age of 12, I think. She was always disciplined, well-behaved, and patient,” she told South First.
Vani Convent High School students in Bowenpally were excited to watch Sania and MC Stan.
“We are very disappointed he performed for such a short time,” a student named Hemanth Sahu told South First.
A joyous crowd could be seen asking for their favourite shots from the stars at the farewell match, especially Rohan Bopanna and Sania herself.
Supporters watching Sania Mirza during her retirement game in Hyderabad. (Ajay Tomar/South First)
Among the lot, a young tennis player could be seen wearing his tennis kit.
“After my practice in Panjagutta, I came on my own via metro to watch Sania Mirza’s farewell game. I really like Sania’s forehand and service,” Sri Charan Reddy (14) from Sri Chaitanya School told South First.
Several ball boys and girls, who practise at the SATS academy, spoke to South First after the game.
“Seeing such professional tennis players from such close quarters was a totally different experience. A great one,” a smiling Fayesha Taneja (15) and Rahul Lokesh (15) said.
Accompanied by their families, Hyderabad residents Chandni Kapoor and Kanupriya Taneja told South First how proud they were of Sania’s achievements, and that they wanted their kids to be inspired by her legacy.
#Telangana: Indian #tennis legend #SaniaMirza will bid adieu to a remarkable 20+ yrs career at exhibition match in #Hyderabad tom.
"Excited to move next phase of life & share my knowledge of sports," @MirzaSania told reporters at her academy (SMTA). Details ⬇️@TheSouthfirst pic.twitter.com/yisCi3brJD
— Ajay Tomar (@ajaytomarasks) March 4, 2023
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