Sania's 'body is wearing down'; will retire after 2022

India tennis star Sania Mirza announced on Wednesday that 2022 will be her last season, since her body is "wearing down" and motivation and energy for the everyday grind is not the same anymore.

Mirza, 35, returned to tennis after giving birth to her son in March 2019 but her progress was later hindered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mirza made the retirement announcement after losing in the Australian Open women's doubles first round, partnering Nadiia Kichenok.

"There's a bunch of reasons for it. It's not as simple as 'okay I'm not going to play'. I do feel my recovery is taking longer; I do feel, considering my son is three years old, I'm putting him at risk by travelling so much with him. That's something I have to take into account," Mirza said at the post-match press conference.

"My body is wearing down. My knee was really hurting today and I'm not saying that's the reason we lost, but I do think that it is taking time to recover as I'm getting older," she added.