“I am trying to change that in my home with my son” – Sania Mirza looks to break gender stereotypes 

Former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza talked about breaking stereotypes and making sure that her son, Izhaan, learns certain etiquettes and take household responsibilities. Back in April 2010, Mirza married Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik when she was in the heydays of her tennis career. It was only earlier this year that the couple officially separated.

In October 2018, Sania became a mother when Izhaan was born. It was in 2023 when Sania pulled the curtains on her tennis career and shifted her focus completely to her family and personal life. The Australian Open 2023 was her last appearance in a Grand Slam where she finished as the runners-up in mixed doubles along with Rohan Bopanna.

"I love doing chores, but I don't know how to cook. So I have to have a chef in the house because that's just something I don't do. The generations before have told us that women need to do this and men need to do that. I am trying to change that in my home with my son," Mirza told ETV Bharat in an interview.

---

Sport teaches you how to deal with losses: Sania Mirza

Mirza started growing in stature in stature in 2005 when she advanced to the second round or better in the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon. In the US Open, she advanced to the fourth round where former World No.1 Maria Sharapova defeated her. Mirza said that life isn’t a bed of roses and that one needs to learn the art of dealing with defeats.

"Sport teaches you things that books sometimes can't teach you. It teaches you how to deal with losses daily. How to be resilient in loss and be humble in defeat and in victory. It teaches you that you're only as good as your last match. It doesn't matter how good or bad you are. I want to instill the same values in my son,” Mirza added.

Although Sania couldn’t go to the quarters of singles in majors, in doubles, she won six Grand Slam titles (three in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles).