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Watch: Sania Mirza shares adorable moment with son Izhaan after reaching Australian Open 2023 final

Published at :January 26, 2023 at 6:41 PM
Modified at :January 26, 2023 at 6:41 PM
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Kshitij ojha


The 4-year-old was jumping for joy after Rohan Bopanna brought him to court.

Sania Mirza will have the chance to secure her seventh major title after reaching the Australian Open 2023 mixed doubles final with compatriot Rohan Bopanna on Wednesday at her final Grand Slam appearance. In a one-hour and 52-minute semifinal, the unseeded Indian pair defeated third seeds Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 10-6.

Mirza-Bopanna pair surged to a dominating lead in the Super tie-breaker after splitting a set each. Sania earned three match points with a brilliant backhand winner. She then finished the match with a drive volley that Krawczyk could not return.

It will be a monumental event for Mirza when she and mixed doubles partner Rohan Bopanna take on Brazilian duo Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in the championship showdown. Mirza's semifinal victory was made much more special by her four-year-old son Izhaan Malik, who ran up to her after the match to hug her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpIHf6w9N98
Sania Mirza shares special moment with son Izhaan after making mixed doubles final

Mirza embraced him and kissed him. Sania later left the Margaret Court Arena and went into the dressing room with her son. Bopanna had a similar experience with his daughter, who ran into the court after the victory.

Rohan Bopanna was Mirza's first mixed doubles partner, and it's fitting that he'll be in the final with her in Mirza's final Grand Slam appearance. They advanced to the semis of Australian Open 2023 mixed doubles event after receiving a walkover in the quarter-final.

Sania Mirza and Bopanna were scheduled to meet Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko and Spain's David Vega Hernandez in the final eight, but they advanced after their opponents withdrew.

"We were playing one of the best-mixed doubles teams on tour and we knew we had to come up with the best. I'm glad we were able to do that. It was an amazing match. Obviously, there's a lot of nerves playing my last Slam and it's so special to play with Rohan," Sania said after the match.

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