Sania Mirza’s Instagram stories had hinted long ago that there were signs of trouble in her relationship with Shoaib Malik. It became evident when the Grand Slam champion (in doubles) shared cryptic posts on her Instagram stories.
In Short
The separation of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik wasn’t surprising news. The writing was on the wall. The official seal was affixed when the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team shared pictures of his second marriage with actress Sana Javed on Saturday.
Divorce Proceedings
Later, a member of Sania’s family confirmed that the former Indian tennis player initiated the divorce proceedings, utilizing the Islamic right of “Khula,” allowing Muslim women to unilaterally seek a divorce.
Sania has officially decided to end her relationship with Shoaib Malik, as made clear by several Grand Slam champion posts on her Instagram stories. About a week ago, she shared a post with a picture, stating, “When something disturbs the peace of your heart, let it go,” with her eyes closed in front of a mirror.
Sania’s Cryptic Post
A few days ago, she shared a quote about marriage, divorce, communication, and life: “Marriage is hard, divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Being overweight is hard. Staying fit is hard, choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard, choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Life will never be easy. I will always choose to be hard. But we can choose our hard. Choose wisely,” her story quoted.
Things weren’t easy between the sports icons. Rumors of a possible split had been circulating since 2022. When Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza appeared on a talk show titled ‘The Mirza Malik Show,‘ their enthusiasm seemed somewhat diminished.
However, speculations gained momentum when both Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza started making changes to their social media accounts. Shoaib Malik updated his Instagram bio, previously stating, “Proud husband to a superwoman @MirzaSania.” The couple also began archiving or deleting their pictures together.
Shoaib Malik’s Marriage
The former Pakistani all-rounder recently unfollowed Sania on social media. On January 20, Shoaib Malik released pictures of his new marriage on the social media platform X. The caption read, “And we cteated you in pairs.”
– Alhamdullilah ♥️
— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) January 20, 2024
"And We created you in pairs" وَخَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا pic.twitter.com/nPzKYYvTcV
Shoaib Malik and Sania got married in April 2010 in Hyderabad, the hometown of the Indian athlete, and they resided in Dubai. Izhaan, their kid, resides with Sania.
Sania Mirza’s Career
Forehands that sing, backhands that pack a punch, and a passion that has stirred love for tennis across the entire nation—Sania Mirza is not just a name on the scoreboard; she is an event. Her journey, perseverance, skill, and the tale of defying odds, stand tall to be celebrated today.
From picking up a racket at the tender age of six to touching the heights of the tennis world, Sania’s story is one of constant effort. In times when tennis in India was more of a gentle ripple than a raging storm, Sania was a tempest, carving her path with every powerful stroke.
Her achievements
Six Grand Slam titles—three in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles—gleam on her shelf like trophies. However, the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly her reign as the World No. 1 in doubles, achieved in 2015 and sustained for a staggering 91 weeks.
A generation of young girls were motivated by her to take up racquets, achieve their Grand Slam goals, and shatter stereotypes both on and off the court.
But her game was not just about power and precision. Sania brought flair and cunning to the court; her delicate drop shots were like poetry, and her celebration was as impactful as her smile, she brought tennis to the Indian community and made sport enjoyable and approachable.
Remember her victory at the junior girls’ competition at Wimbledon in 2003? Dressed in green and white amidst the sea of green, the 16-year-old Sania became a ray of hope, creating magic in the tennis world.
But Sania’s story is not just about trophies and titles. It’s about mastering adversity. The threat of her career spiraling down due to injuries loomed, but like a true athlete, her steadfast resolve always pulled her back into the game.
Today, as Sania bids farewell to the professional tennis legacy, one thing is clear: she wasn’t just playing tennis; she was changing the game. She taught us that challenges are meant to be confronted, dreams don’t come labeled with visas, and the love for the game is the only passport you need to conquer the world.
Let’s offer Sania a hearty round of applause, honoring her as a genuine inspiration in addition to her well-earned accolades and triumphs. Her courage and steadfast belief that a girl from Hyderabad could make her mark on the global stage deserve our admiration. Sania has taught us that boundaries are merely imaginary, and we are very appreciative of the insightful lesson she has shared.
