After playing her last WTA match in Beijing in October 2017 and giving birth to adorable son Izhaan in October 2018, India’s most decorated female tennis star Sania Mirza has returned to pre-pregnancy weight and is now getting stronger for a comeback to competitive tennis in the beginning of the 2020 season.
While Mirza was well into her pregnancy, the former world No.1 doubles player said that she missed the feeling of competition and indicated that year 2020 would be perfect for a comeback. Those plans will soon be actualized, as Mirza intends to play the January 11-18 Hobart International, followed by the Australian Open.
Inspired by WTA moms Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Tatiana Golovin, and many others, the 33-year-old Mirza is ready for all the upcoming challenges, even though she’s satisfied with all her career achievements so far and doesn’t have any expectations:
I enjoy the struggle. I really miss the competition, walking on court. I miss that feeling of winning, even the struggle of losing… it’s just all that and part of who I am.
It will be a big challenge, as having a one-year-old baby disrupts your sleep patterns and you never know what to expect. Here’s how the new mom explained a recent situation:
For example, my son is not well right now, he woke up at 1 am last night, started crying and puked. So I was up till 2.30 in the morning. For a tennis player that’s not an ideal situation. So it’s a balancing act you have to do.
The Indian, who has won three women’s doubles and three mixed doubles titles at Grand Slams, is eligible for a protected ranking as she starts playing again.
Congratulations Sania Mirza and Shoeb Malik. Wish you all the best.