Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has announced retirement from tennis after the 2022 season. “I've decided that this will be my last season. I'm taking it week by week. Not sure if I can last the season, but I want to,” she told reporters after her first-round loss in the women’s doubles in the Australian Open, reported BBC.

Mirza, who was the first Indian to win WTA singles title in 2005, has had a successful tennis career. In 2015, she won the Wimbledon doubles championship with Swiss player Martina Hingis and later also won the US and Australian Opens.

The former champion started playing tennis as a teenager and took it up professionally after she participated in, and won, adult tournaments. Mirza won her first title when she was only 15 years old at the 2002 Asian Games.

Besides being a tennis player, Mirza is also a mother to a 3-year-old boy. Her personal life also receives a lot of attention as she’s married to Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik.

With almost 25 million followers on social media platforms, the 35-year-old is one of the most celebrated sports stars in India.

Following her retirement announcement, social media flooded with messages paying tribute to the player’s career.

“We are proud of you,” said many users on Twitter.