City
Epaper

Incredible start to her comeback: Bhupathi on Sania

By IANS | Updated: January 18, 2020 17:35 IST

Tennis great Mahesh Bhupathi heaped praise on his former mixed doubles partner Sania Mirza, saying it is an 'incredible' start to her road to making a comeback after the star player won the women's doubles title at Hobart International on Saturday alongwith Nadiia Kichenok.

Open in App

"Incredible start to her comeback..she has worked very hard to get match fit and it's great to see the results come so quick," Bhupathi told .

Bhupathi and Mirza had won two Grand Slams together before parting ways in 2012. Mirza had won Australian Open (2009) and French Open (2012) with Bhuapthi and became the first female player from India to win a Grand Slam when she won the 2009 Australian Open trophy with Bhupathi.

Former Davis Cup captain Jaidip Mukerjea, who has seen Mirza from her early days, said the 33-year old is a 'fighter' and this comeback is special.

"I have always seen a fighter in her. It's not easy to comeback after not playing tennis for two years. What she has done only shows her class and commitment to the sport. I hope she remains injury free and healthy and there are greater things to come for her this year," he said.

Former doubles No.1 Mirza and Kichenok defeated the second-seeded Chinese duo Peng Shuai and Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-4 in a rather one-sided contest which lasted one hour and 21 minutes.

It is Mirza's first WTA title in just over two years and 42nd of her storied doubles career, while Kichenok won her fifth, and first since partnering her twin sister, Lyudmyla, to win the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai in 2018.

The Indian star last won a trophy alongside Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the Brisbane International in the first week of the 2017 season, one of three doubles finals she reached that year before announcing her pregnancy in April of 2018.

Three-time doubles Grand Slam winner Mirza is making a return to competition after a two-year hiatus, initially due to injuries and then welcoming her son in October 2018.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: MirzaKichenokPeng Shuaiindia
Open in App

Related Stories

Maharashtra"This is Betrayal": Former MP Calls Out Prada for Allegedly Copying Kolhapuri Chappal Design

InternationalWhen Will Russia Deliver More S-400 Missiles to India? Major Update Revealed - Here’s Why It Was Delayed

NationalIndia Extends Airspace Ban on Pakistan-Based Aircraft Till July 24

NationalOperation Sindhu: “We Saw Drones, Missiles,” Say Evacuated Students Recounting Life in Iran’s Warzone

NationalCOVID-19 Update: Mumbai Cases Drop Sharply; India’s Active Tally Drops By 428

टेनिस Realted Stories

TennisWimbledon: Sinner, Djokovic in same half of draw, Alcaraz to start against Fognini

TennisHuge milestone up for grabs as Alcaraz prepares to defend Wimbledon title

TennisAlcaraz secures Queens Club Championships title, beats Lehecka

TennisBengaluru chosen to host prestigious Billie Jean King Cup play-offs

TennisChennai Open returns to WTA calendar after three years