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Aus Open: Sania-Bopanna in mixed doubles semi-finals

Last updated on: January 24, 2023 14:07 IST

Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza

IMAGE: Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza were given a walkover by the Latvian-Spanish pair of Jelena Ostapenko and David Vega Hernandez in the last 8 stage at the Australian Open. Photograph: PTI

Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna entered the mixed doubles semi-finals at the Australian Open on Tuesday after receiving a walkover in the quarter-finals.

The Indian pair, which hasn't dropped a set in the ongoing tournament yet, was to play Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko and Spain's David Vega Hernandez.

 

They await the winner of the quarter-final between third seeds Desirae Krawczyk-Neal Skupski and Taylor Townsend-Jamie Murray.

Earlier, the Indian duo advanced to the quarter-finals, beating the Uruguay-Japanese pair of Ariel Behar-Makoto Ninomiya 6-4, 7-6(11-9) in the second round on Monday night.

The Australian Open is 36-year-old Mirza's last Grand Slam campaign. The six-time Grand Slam doubles champion (three women's and three mixed) will retire later this season after participating in the WTA Dubai Championships in February.

The Indian pair started off well in their second round match, scoring their first service break early.

However, Behar-Ninomiya broke back to level at 2-2.

Mirza-Bopanna broke again to go ahead, take control of the set and win it 6-4.

The scores ran close in the second set. At 3-3 Mirza-Bopanna effected a break, only to see the Uruguay-Japanese pair return it to level at 4-4 and take the tie to the tie-breaker.

The Indians held their nerve thereafter to prevail after an hour 17 minutes and set up a meeting with the Latvian and Spanish pair of Ostapenko and Hernandez in the last 8 stage.

Bopanna, partnering Mathew Ebden, made a first round exit in the men’s doubles, while Mirza and her Kazkah partner Anna Danilina lost in the second round of the women’s doubles.