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Sania Mirza to stage comeback at Hobart International

Sania Mirza will play her first event since 2017 when she turns out in the Brisbane International in January 2020 along with Ukranian Nadiia Kichenok

Sania Mirza to stage comeback at Hobart International
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By

Sarah Waris

Published: 13 Nov 2019 11:00 AM GMT

Six-time tennis Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza confirmed that she will be back to competitive tennis at Hobart International in January 2020, two years after taking a maternity break. The tennis star missed the entire 2018 and 2019 seasons after giving birth to son Izhaan in October last year.

The 33-year-old, who last played at China Open in October 2017, will team up with Ukraine's Nadiia Kichenok, the current world number 38. Sania will partner American Rajeev Ram for the mixed doubles at the Australian Open.

Before taking a short sabbatical from the game, Sania won the Brisbane International with Bethanie Mattek-Sands in 2017, and also reached the latter stages of events in Doha, Sydney, Dubai, Barbora Strycova and Miami. Along with Shuai Peng, Sania reached the semis of the US Open in 2017, which was her last Grand Slam appearance. Wuhan and Beijing were her last tournaments before she decided to take a break to have a child.

Sania Mirza

Sania remains focused on fitness ahead of return

The 33-year old has been posting her fitness journey on Instagram regularly, where she has documented how she lost over 26 kilos since giving birth last year. "The reason I never committed to coming back to tennis was because that I didn't know how my body would react. It takes a tremendous toll [on the body and mind] when you are a professional athlete. It's the same when you take care of an infant. Both are physically and emotionally demanding," she told Mid-Day.

She begins her day by spending three to four hours at training and makes time out for gym sessions in the evening. Sania is also keen to not put additional pressure on herself once she returns to the circuit, and play with freedom. "I have achieved everything which I could have dreamt of in my career, whatever happens next will be a bonus for me," she said.

Sania is inspired by Serena Williams, who too took a break to have a baby but is now routing opponents like before. "There is enough self-motivation to come back but it's nice to see people like Serena competing at Grand Slams after having a baby, it's obviously very inspiring."

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