Australian Open 2023: Sania, Bopanna advance; Balaji-Jeevan shock fifth seeds Dodig and Krajicek

0
79

[google-translator]

Last Updated: January 21, 2023, 23:50 IST

Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna through to second round of Australian Open 2023 (Twitter)

Indian veteran pair Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna advanced to the next round while Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan also went through

The Indian men’s doubles pair of N Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan continued their good run by stunning fifth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the opening round of the Australian Open here on Saturday.

Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan, who came into the tournament as an alternate team, took two hours and 20 minutes to win the first round fixture 7-6 (6) 2-6 6-4 against Croatian Dodig and American Krajicek.

In the mixed doubles event, veterans Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna too advanced to the second round, with a straight-set win.

Despite having less number of aces and winners, Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan had more service points and delivered when it mattered the most, converting both their breakpoints.

ALSO READ| ‘Every Season Counts Now’: Novak Djokovic After Entering Australia Open Last 16

The Indian team, featuring in its debut Grand Slam, won the tie breaker after saving a set point.

However, they were broken in the sixth and eighth games as Dodig and Krajicek forced a decider. A forehand winner in the seventh game gave Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan the crucial break in the third set.

Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan, who had finished runners-up at the Tata Open Maharashtra earlier this month, will take on the French duo of Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin in the second round.

ALSO READ| Australian Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka Storms into Last-16 for Showdown with Belinda Bencic

Mirza and Bopanna dispatched locals Jaimee Fourlis and Luke Saville 7-5 6-3 in their opening round.

The Indian took a crucial break in the 11th game to take the opening set. With the wind in their sails, Mirza and Bopanna then dominated the second set, breaking their opponents in the seventh and ninth game.

Read all the Latest Sports News here

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)

Source link

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here