Sania Mirza Returns to Hyderabad for Eid After Tense Days in Dubai
Former India tennis star Sania Mirza has returned to Hyderabad to celebrate Eid after experiencing tense days in Dubai, where she lives with her seven-year-old son, Izhaan. The move came amid regional security concerns that made life uncertain, prompting the tennis legend to temporarily leave the city she calls home for much of the year.
Mirza shared that the decision to travel to India was influenced by the sound of fighter jets overhead and debris from an intercepted projectile falling close to her residence in Al Barsha. “We heard fighter jets above our house and saw interceptions. There was debris that fell around 400–500 metres from where we live,” she said. While she emphasized that she never felt directly unsafe, she admitted that the uncertainty, especially with a young child at home, made her decision to return unavoidable. “You don’t want your child going through that. He was asking questions. It didn’t feel unsafe, but it did feel uncertain and unsettling,” she added.
Dubai serves as Mirza’s primary residence for much of the year, where her son attends school. She said the family will decide when to return depending on how the situation develops. “School is supposed to start next week, but we’ll monitor the situation. I’m lucky that I can come back to Hyderabad and still have a home here with family,” Mirza said.
Eid Homecoming
Returning to Hyderabad during Ramzan is a long-standing tradition for Mirza. “I come every Eid. We try to spend the last week of Ramzan in Hyderabad because Ramzan here has to be experienced. It’s always nice to be around family,” she shared. Her son, she said, enjoys the visit as much as she does. “He loves coming to his grandparents because nobody says no to anything here,” she joked.
Building the Next Generation
Since retiring from professional tennis, Mirza has shifted focus to nurturing future talent through her initiative, Next Set, which supports young female athletes in India. “It’s more than a business. Through the programme, young players are given access to coaches, physios, nutritionists, and financial support so they can focus on training without worrying about the cost of support staff,” she explained. The project arose from her desire to address the question of why India hasn’t produced another tennis player like her.
Challenges Ahead for Indian Tennis
Mirza believes India still has work to do before producing another world-class women’s tennis player. “We need realistic goals first. We want to see Indian women back in Grand Slams regularly and have players in the top 100 or top 150 of the world,” she said. She highlighted challenges such as finances, infrastructure, and the difficult transition from junior to professional tennis. “All they should have to do is focus on playing,” she emphasized, underlining her commitment to creating an environment where talented young players get the support they need.
As Mirza enjoys the warmth of family during Eid, her focus on mentoring the next generation of athletes shows that her legacy extends far beyond the tennis court.
