NEW DELHI, Aug 1: Star Indian tennis player Sania Mirza says she has achieved everything in her path-breaking career and has �nothing to prove� in her second innings, which is likely to begin by January 2020.
In her quest to make a comeback to competitive tennis after more than two years after becoming a mother, the 32-year-old Sania is training vigorously for about four hours a day and has shed 26 kilos in the process.
Before taking leave from the circuit to start a family, Sania won six doubles Grand Slam titles � including three mixed � achieved the number one rank, won medals at multi-disciplinary events apart from laying hands on a year-end WTA Finale title with Swiss great Martina Hingis.
�In my career, I have achieved everything which I could have dreamt of. And whatever happens next will be a bonus for me. I thought I will be able to comeback by August but probably by January, it looks like a possibility,� Sania told PTI in an interview.
�Having (son) Izhan is the biggest blessing I could have. If I am able to come back, it will be amazing. He�s (son) my inspiration to get back to being fit. If I do comeback, it will not be to prove anything. The only reason to comeback would be that I love playing and competing.
�I still have to see how my body reacts. The picture will be clear in the next two months. I don�t want to compete when I am not ready. There is no point in coming back and getting injured.�
Not many tennis players have enjoyed success after motherhood. Only Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong and Kim Clijsters have won a singles major after giving birth to their children.
In the current generation, only a few players are in top-50 after becoming mothers. But American great Serena Williams remains a fierce competitor at number nine in the world after becoming a mother.
Then there is Victoria Azarenka, who figures in top-50 in both singles and doubles, after giving birth to baby boy Leo.
German player Tatjana Maria, ranked 100, is also a mother and won a doubles title last year with Britain�s Heather Watson.
�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,� Sania said. � PTI
