Sania Mirza entered the final of the mixed doubles event of the Australian Open, along with compatriot Rohan Bopanna, on Wednesday to stay on course for a fairytale farewell to a rather impressive career.

Sania, who has already announced this would be her last grand slam appearance (she will bid adieu to the sport at next month’s Dubai Tennis Championships), and Bopanna defeated the third seed pairing of Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5- 7), 10-6 in the semi-finals. Sania, who has six grand slam titles under her belt, is focused on competing at her best level.

“I play every match trying to win, whether it’s my last tournament or my last slam or my first slam. For me, competitiveness is in my blood,” Sania, the first Indian to win a WTA singles title (Hyderabad Open, 2003), told reporters.

“Every time I step on the court, I want to win regardless of whether it’s going to be my last slam, whether it’s my last season...

“It’s special in many ways. It’s emotional in many ways. The approach to every match remains the same, the same professionalism, warm-up, routine, sort of will to win. That doesn’t really change.”

Sania will play in the mixed doubles final 18 years after she first made her major debut at the same tournament.

Sania won her first grand slam title at the Australian Open in 2009, winning the mixed doubles crown with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi. In 2016, teaming up with Swiss Martina Hingis, she won the women’s doubles title.

On Wednesday, the unseeded Indian pair got past the third seeds in one hour and 52 minutes.

After splitting a set each, the Indians raced to a commanding lead in the super tie-breaker. Sania found a stunning backhand winner to earn three match points and sealed the contest with a drive volley that Krawczyk could not return.

“It was an amazing match, there were a lot of nerves. It’s my last slam and it’s so special to play with Rohan. He was my first mixed doubles partner when I was 14 and today I’m 36 and he is 42 and we are still playing, we have a solid relationship,” Sania said after the match.

“I’m not a crier but I’m almost there right now. I feel the love for the last 18 years I have been coming here,” said Sania.

The 42-year-old Bopanna, who won his only major title at the 2017 French Open, bagging the mixed doubles with Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski, said seizing the momentum in the tie break was crucial.

“One more to go. It would be an absolute dream (Sania winning the title). It can’t get better than that. It will be special,” Bopanna said.