There's a lot of nerves playing my last Slam, says Sania Mirza after emotional mixed doubles final run

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza who is playing the last Grand Slam of her career admitted that her mixed doubles final run in Australian Open is so emotional adding that theres a lot of nerves playing her last majorThe 36yearold Sania and partner Rohan Bopanna cruised past third seeds and the reigning Wimbledon mixed doubles champions Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 765 675 106 to reach the Australian Open finalWe were playing one of the best mixed doubles teams on tour and we knew we had to come up with the best Im glad we were able to do that It was an amazing match obviously theres a lot of nerves playing my last Slam and its so special to play with Rohan Sania saidRohan was my firstever mixed doubles partner when I was 14 years old were so excited to come back here and give ourselves another chance added the Indian ace who plans to retire later this yearInterestingly Sania claimed her first major in 2009 at Melbourne Park when she teamed up with Mahesh Bhupathi And she will end her illustrious Grand Slam career here on SaturdayAlso readSania Mirza on entering mixed doubles at Aus Open It is amazing specialIm so emotional Im not a crier in front of people but Im almost there right now I feel the love here for the 18 years that Ive been coming here it feels like home for me because honestly Ive got family here I eat at home I get so much home food and I have all these Indians coming out and supporting me Its been quite a journey and Im really going to miss coming back here she saidMelbourne Park has been a happy hunting ground for the Indian star After his maiden triumph in 2009 Seven years later in 2016 she paired up with Swiss star Martina Hingis and claimed the womens doubles title as the top seeds Outside Australia she earned four other Grand Slam titles 2015 Wimbledon and 2015 US Open womens doubles with Hingis 2012 Roland Garros mixed doubles with Bhupathi and 2014 US Open mixed doubles with Bruno SoaresWith Sania gunning for her third Australian Open and seventh Major the Indian pair will cross swords with Brazilian duo Luisa Stefani amp Rafael Matos in the final on SaturdayThe 42yearold Bopanna said Itd be an absolute dream to clinch the winners trophy with the sixtime Grand Slam championYou cant get anything better than that to finish her last slam with a title I think itd be really special We need it in India we need to keep inspiring everyone back there he saidSaturdays final will be the perfect Grand Slam farewell for Sania as earlier this month she announced her retirement from professional tennis after the Dubai Tennis Championships a WTA 1000 event which begins on February 19This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever