Sania Mirza’s most iconic moments on court

“I’m still going to play a couple of more tournaments but my journey of professional tennis started here in Melbourne in 2005, when I played Serena William in the third round as an 18-year-old and that was scarily enough, 18 years ago…and I couldn’t think of a better arena to finish my career at in a Grand Slam,” the seeded player said during her last Grand Slam final three days ago. After an 18-year-long sporting career, Indian tennis champion, Sania Mirza played her last Grand Slam in Melbourne a few days ago. To India, Mirza’s career has been path-breaking in several ways. From being the highest-ranked Indian female player in history at world no. 27 to winning six grand slam titles, becoming a mama and owning her choices every step of the way—there’s much that we’ve loved about her. 

For a female athlete, it’s never just about the game. Despite the ranks, wins and titles, for years, female sports players have faced judgments, comments and criticism about their fashion choices, hairstyles and nail updos. And Sania Mirza, too, has faced the brunt of exceedingly critical remarks. When she first started playing, Mirza faced severe criticism for wearing a short skirt and sleeveless top—which is in fact the sports’ quintessential outfit.  “If it was the T-shirts at Wimbledon, it turned out to be the nose ring at the US Open. Everything I wore was interpreted to be a symbol of rebellion,” she wrote in her book Ace Against Odds. But like Serena Williams did, she’s come to own it—from flaunting the nose ring on court to looking flawless in her favourite stilettos off-court. Nothing stopped these tennis icons to look bold, beautiful and play the game of their lives each time they stepped onto the court. 

Bazaar India takes a look back at some of Mirza’s most iconic moments on court—the wins, the fits, the slams, and styles. Here’s to a journey brimming with utmost passion and ambition and an ode to the player, mother and woman that she is. 

When she won the 2002 Asian Games with Leander Paes 
The young and emerging star played the 2002 Asian Games tennis doubles with Leander Paes to win the bronze medal, making it the fourth medal that India won that year. 

Her first major success came as a junior player in 2003 
After Mirza became a pro in 2003, she, with Russian partner Alisa Kleybanova won the Junior Girls Doubles championship at the Wimbledon, marking the first success of Indian star, Sania Mirza. 

When she became the first Indian player to win the WTA title 
In 2005, Sania Mirza became the first Indian female player to win the WTA Single’s title, putting Indian tennis on the global map. 

When she was trolled for wearing a nose ring…but did it anyway 

Nose rings are iconically Indian. They embody and own the desi culture and exude the typical Indian aesthetic. For the West, however, nose rings are often perceived to be acts and symbols of rebellion. At the 2005 U.S. Open, Mirza flaunted her nose ring and here’s what happened. In his 2010 book, Commonwealth Games 2010: The Index of a New India, Boria Majumdar writes, “200,000-plus women [bought] nose rings in emulation of her after her fourth-round U.S. Open appearance in 2005.”

When she became the first Indian female player to be seeded at a Grand Slam
In 2006, Sania Mirza became the first Indian female to be seeded at the Grand Slam singles event at the Australian Open. Entering as the 32nd seed, Mirza won the first game against Victoria Azarenka.    

When she rocked every tennis outfit.

From classic whites to blues, purples, pinks and reds—Mirza brought her A-game to the court-— aces, skirts and all. 

She won her first Grand Slam title in 2009 and five more times after that 
2009 Australian Open – Mixed doubles  was Mirza’s first major Grand Slam title, which she shared with her ace partner, Mahesh Bhupathi. The duo, who entered the tournaments as wildcard, built a strong partnership on court leading to an easy-breezy win at the final game. (At least they made it look easy). 

We have a mutual love for stilettos 

Off-court, Mirza has admitted to owning nearly 350 pairs of shoes and declared her love for stilettos. Trust us when we say—she rocks the look. Is there something she can’t do? 

She won the Wimbledon and US Open Doubles in 2015

 2015 was definitely a special year for Mirza, who won two Grand Slams that year. At the Wimbledon she partnered with Martina Hingis to win at the All England Court. Later that year, the same duo dominated at the US Open Doubles and claimed a glorious victory. 

Champion mama 

We don’t know about you, but we definitely got a little teary-eyed seeing Mirza’s son run towards his mama at the end of her game and hug her as tightly as he possibly could at her last Grand Slam Final, that took place a few days ago.