Sania Mirza makes winning return, captures Hobart International title
Sania Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok won the women's doubles title in Hobart, Australia. Sania returned to tennis after two years
FollowHobart: After being away from the game for over two years, Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza made a winning return as she won the women’s doubles title in Hobart on Saturday (January 18).
Sania and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok defeated Zhang Shuai and Peng Shuai of China in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
The 33-year-old Sania made a memorable comeback to the tennis courts. She had been away from action for two years due to injury and later gave birth to her son Izhaan. She is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.
The last tournament before Hobart was China Open in October 2017. Sania was world number one in women's doubles. She is married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.
After winning her first match on return, in Hobart, she had written on her Instagram account, “Today was one of the most special days of my life .. to have my parents and my little baby boy supporting me in my first match after a little less than 2 and a half years .. and to top it off we even WON our first round with my partner @nadiakichenok feel very grateful and thankful for all the msgs, support and love I am receiving.. BELIEF!! Takes you places YES my baby boy we did it @izhaan.mirzamalik Allhamdulillah for everything (sic)”.
After her semi-final win in Hobart, she had said, "It feels amazing, especially to me, for someone who’s not played for so long."
"I’m really excited to be in the final with Nadiia. I think today we weren’t playing our best, but we still came through," she added.
The Hyderabad player said her son inspires her. “Obviously, I think my son really inspires me to be here. As a woman, with such great athletes being mothers and coming back, I just feel that women can really have it all, and I hope this inspires a few women out there, especially in my side of the world.”
