Bopanna and Sania lost 6-7(2) 2-6 to Brazilian pair Luisa Stefani and Rafael Mataos in the title clash.
Their first Grand Slam as a team and certainly not the last!🇧🇷 Rafael Matos • @Luisa__Stefani • #AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/2G82TDQQDB
— #AusOpen (@AusOpen) 1674790022000
Heading into her last major tournament, Sania had six Grand Slam titles – three women’s doubles and as many mixed doubles – in her cabinet. Bopanna, 42, has a mixed doubles title at Roland Garros to her credit.
Sania was in tears during the post-match presentation ceremony.
AP Photo
“Rohan was my very first mixed doubles partner at (aged) 14 and we won national championships,” said Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam champion, three in doubles and three in mixed.
“My professional career started in Melbourne… I couldn’t think of a better arena to end my [Grand Slam] career a… https://t.co/7l6oRzlGfV
— #AusOpen (@AusOpen) 1674788045000
“It was a long time ago, 22 years ago, and I couldn’t think of a better person – he’s one of my best friends and best partners – to finish my career here and play the final.
“There is no better place for me, or anyone for me, to end my Grand Slam career.”
AP Photo
Sania, who is married to former Pakistani cricket captain Shoaib Malik, has a young son Izhaan and said it was amazing to play past him in a major final.
“I never thought I would be able to play in front of my kid in a Grand Slam final, so it’s really special to have my four-year-old and my parents here,” she said.
Sania was the first Indian to win a WTA singles title in 2005 in her hometown of Hyderabad. She reached the fourth round of the US Open the same year and in 2007 was in the women’s top 30. But a wrist injury led her to focus on doubles, forging a partnership with Swiss great Martina Hingis that produced three Grand Slam titles.
(With agency contributions)
