Indian tennis great Sania Mirza, who played her retirement match on March 5, in a tweet, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a letter of appreciation. The PM sent a deeply-moving letter to the tennis star, writing how she inspired other women to pursue a career in sports and that she has left an indelible mark on Indian sports.

'Tennis lovers will...': PM Narendra Modi sends HEARTFELT letter to tennis star Sania Mirza on her retirement

On Tuesday (February 21), Sania Mirza played her last competitive game as she called it quits from tennis and ended her glorious career. Playing in the women's doubles first-round of the Dubai Tennis Championship, along with Madison Keys, Sania and her American partner lost to Russian pair of Vernokia Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6 to bow out with a loss.

Sania Mirza retires: World No. 1 Iga Swiatek reacts after Indian tennis star hangs up her boots

Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza ended her glorious career with a first-round defeat in the Dubai Tennis Championship on Tuesday (February 21). Sania teamed up with Madison Keys but lost to the Russian pair of Vernokia Kudermetova and Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets, 4-6, 0-6, to bow out of competitive tennis with as many as six Grand Slam titles, including three women's doubles (with Swiss legend Martina Hingis).

Sania Mirza ends illustrious career with first-round defeat in Dubai Tennis Championship

"I am still going to play a couple more tournaments but the journey of my professional career started in Melbourne in 2005 when I played Serena Williams in the third round here as an 18-year-old and that was scary enough 18-years-ago and I had the privilege to come back here again and again and win some tournaments here," said Sania Mirza in an emotional speech.

Tennis player Sania Mirza bids emotional farewell, ends Grand Slam career with loss