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Xtra Time Web Desk: Sania Mirza remains the only Indian to qualify in the Australian Open. The Indian Tennis player and her partner Rajeev Ram defeated the pair of Ellen Perez and Matwe Middelkoop in the second round of the mixed doubles event to qualify to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

The Indo-American duo started off with extreme spirit wrapped up the match in straight sets. The contest which was played for an hour and 27 minutes saw Mirza and Ram dispatch Australian Perez and Dutch Middelkoop 7-6 (8/6),6-4.

They will now come face to face to all Australian tie between Sam Stosur and Matthew Ebden and Jaimee Fourlis and Jason Kubler in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, Mirza and Ram had defeated Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic and Nikola Cacic in the opening round.

It has been few weeks since Mirza announced her retirement after 2022 season. Sharing her thoughts on this decision, she said, "I'm looking forward to being at home not leaving out of a suitcase for a change and yeah just living a normal life.”

"I hope that I can finish the season and my body is healthy enough to play. The level is not an issue. It’s just about my body and the travel and stuff. So I’m still looking forward to the season. It’s a long year. We’re only in January. Everybody got really emotional yesterday and made me emotional as well; I didn’t mean it, India, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to make everyone so sad, but yeah, I am looking forward to actually trying to win some tournaments this year before I stop,” she added.

On being asked about her mixed doubles campaign at the Australian Open, Mirza said it is tough before highlighting the experience factor could work in their favour.

"In mixed everything is really tough, and with the no-ad and with the super tie break, it’s a bit of a toss-up, but well, we’ve got age on our side. That’s for sure, and we’ve got experience, and I think that we’re just really enjoying being on court together,” said Mirza.