“Until we meet again....” — that’s how Sania Mirza signed off a social media post after losing in the Wimbledon mixed doubles semi-final on Wednesday.

The emotional post came after the Indian tennis icon, along with her Croatian partner Mate Pavic, seeded sixth, lost to the defending champions and second seeds, Neal Skupski and Desirae

Krawczyk 6-4, 5-7, 4-6, in two hours 16 minutes on Wednesday night.

“Sport takes so much out of you... Mentally , physically, emotionally... The wins and the losses ..hours of hard work and sleepless nights after tough losses. But it gives you soooo much in return that not many other ‘jobs’ can give you and for which i am forever grateful for the tears and the joy, the fight and the struggle... the work we put in is all worth it in the end ..it wasn’t meant to be this time @wimbledon but you have been nothing but spectacular. it has been an honor to play here and win here over the last 20 years ..i will miss you. until we meet again....,” she posted on Instagram.

The 35-year-old Sania had already announced during this year’s Australian Open that the 2022 season will be her last on the tour.

On Wednesday, Sania and Pavic, both multiple-time grand slam winners, dominated the first set on the back of a strong serve.

The duo looked on course to sealing the match as they led 4-2 in the second set but they lost five of the next six games and Skupski and Krawczyk forced the decider.

In the third set, Sania and Pavic drew first blood, but were immediately broken back by their British-American opponents.

In the 12th game, Pavic double faulted twice with Skupski and Krawczyk converting the match point.

This was Sania’s best mixed doubles performance at the All England Club. She had previously reached the quarter finals in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

Sania, a six-time grand slam winner, had won the Wimbledon women’s doubles title in 2015, along with

Martina Hingis. Hingis and Sania had also won the US Open in 2015 and the 2016 Australian Open.

Her three mixed doubles grand slam triumphs had come at the 2009 Australian Open, the 2012 French Open (partnering Mahesh Bhupathi) and the 2014 US Open with Brazilian Bruno Soares.

In August 2016, Sania had split with Hingis. They had announced that the decision was a mutual one, keeping in mind a few under-par performances. The 2016 WTA Finals in Singapore was their last event together.

Sania did play with other partners like Barbora Strycova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. But a fourth doubles grand slam title, and a career grand slam, remained out of her grasp.

Even in mixed doubles, her last grand slam win was way back in 2014.

At the ongoing Wimbledon, she seemed to be on course to adding the elusive title to her kitty and complete a career grand slam in mixed doubles.

But that dream remained unfulfilled, as the semi-final slipped out of her grip. On Wednesday night at Big W, she fell just that bit short.

Written with PTI inputs