Sania, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from professional tennis after the Dubai Tennis Championships begin on February 19.
Sania Mirza of India and her American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands were defeated in straight sets in the first round of the Abu Dhabi Open here by the duo of Kirsten Flipkens and Laura Siegemund. Sania and Bethanie were eliminated from the tournament after losing 3-6, 4-6 to their Belgian-German opponents in a one-hour and 13-minute match Monday night.
Sania, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will retire from professional tennis after the Dubai Tennis Championships begin on February 19.
Sania and Rohan Bopanna finished runner-up in the mixed doubles at the Australian Open in Melbourne last month, losing in the final to Brazilians Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos.
Sania’s last appearance in a Grand Slam was in that match.
