‘Not young anymore, but will die if I don’t try coming back’

Bengaluru, February 9 

India’s tennis star Sania Mirza is planning to make a return to the game by the end of the year. The 32-year-old had last played at the China Open in October, 2017, where she suffered a knee injury and was out of competition in the early part of last year. Last year in October, Sania gave birth to a baby boy. 

“Realistic possibility for comeback is by the end of the year,” Sania said. “My conditioning trainer is coming in the next 10 days. Now that I have lost weight, I do tennis-specific training. I am 32 years old. I am not so young as a tennis player. But I would die if I did not try. Tennis is my life, it has given me everything. I still have it in me.”  

Sania said she looks up to German legend Steffi Graf, winner of 22 Grand Slam titles. “Steffi Graf is someone I look up to. I am still star-struck whenever I see her. She is a great example because people say a woman cannot have to it all, but she has it all,” he said. “She is the greatest player. She married, had kids and achieved many things in life.” — PTI