India’s Sania Mirza and doubles partner, Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova have decided to part ways on Friday, ESPN reported. The Indian will now team up with Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, who is ranked 13th in the world in the doubles circuit.
Mirza’s father and coach Imran Mirza confirmed the decision was taken mutually, with the Czech wanting to focus on her singles career. “Yes, two titles, three finals, two semis and a couple of quarter-finals is a pretty decent showing over 10 tournaments together,” Imran Mirza said. “But while Barbora would like to focus this year on her singles and is finding it exhausting when she goes deep in one or both formats, Sania is looking to win a few more big titles in doubles. Hence, it was mutually decided to part ways,” Mirza added.
The Mirza-Strycova pair tasted success immediately after joining hands last year. They blazed away to the title in Cincinnati in August. After bowing out in the quarter-final of the US Open, they bounced back with a title in Tokyo.
However, the pair have had an underwhelming 2017 of sorts, having missed out on a title win. However, they reached the finals last week in Miami, where they were beaten in straight sets by Gabriela Dabrowski & Yifan Xu.
The 29-year-old teamed up with Strycova soon after splitting with Swiss ace Martina Hingis with whom she forged a terrific partnership, winning three Grand Slams and going on a 41-match unbeaten run.
Shvedova, also 29, has won 13 career doubles titles including, Wimbledon and US Open wins in 2010.