Sania Mirza Reveals She Battled Depression at Peak of Her Career

Former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has revealed that she suffered from depression during the peak of her professional career due to personal life challenges.

Speaking recently after women’s cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues openly discussed her anxiety during the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-final, Mirza praised her courage and shared her own mental health struggles.

In an interview, Sania Mirza emphasized the importance of mental health awareness, saying it is crucial to address such issues. She admitted that she paid attention to her mental health very late in life due to a lack of awareness.

Mirza noted that over the past eight to ten years, people have started openly discussing mental health, whereas earlier there were many misconceptions and reluctance to talk about it in society. She expressed happiness that this stigma is gradually fading.

She added that public figures whose voices are widely heard have a responsibility to speak about topics that are often ignored. “I am glad I spoke about it,” she said.

Sharing her personal experience, Mirza said she went through a phase of depression while dealing with multiple challenges off the tennis court, even when she was at the height of her career. She acknowledged that it was difficult for her to talk about these issues during that time but appreciated Jemimah Rodrigues for speaking openly.

Mirza further said that showing vulnerability when the whole world is watching requires great courage, especially at the peak of success. She expressed hope that Jemimah’s openness would encourage other athletes to realize that talking about mental health and seeking help is neither shameful nor a sign of weakness.