Sania and Bopanna, who now need just one win to ensure a medal, are expected to face a tough challenge in their next match as they will take on the U.S. team of Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram for a place in the final. “We would do whatever we can and put our best forward”.
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“There really wasn’t much in it”, said Stosur. Sania and Bopanna converted three of four breakpoints while the opponents converted one of two. Emulating her former partner Mahesh Bhupathi’s strategy, Sania said she stuck with same game plan. Sania also supported him with strong forehands.
“After three Grand Slam victories and eleven WTA doubles titles together, we have mutually agreed that we would each be open to playing with other players for the remainder of the season”. Although Murray had played a match earlier on Friday, he was still in top form. There was another chance for the Indians, when they were up 0-30 on Heather’s serve at 2-4, but she managed to hold on.
Tennis world went into a deep shock on Wednesday after Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis made a decision to end their astonishing partnership. Brushing aside their No.4 billing in Rio, Bopanna said everyone had a chance.
Chawrasia suffered two double bogeys (third and 13th) and four bogeys (seventh, 11th, 12th and 14th) against two birdies on the second and eighth to get a 78 that took his total to five-over 289 (71, 71, 69, 78). That played on her mind I think.
“I don’t know, it’s just hard”.
The Indian duo will face the winners of Venus Williams and Ram Rajeev of the United States versus Italian pair of Roberta Vinci and Fabio Fognini in the semis tomorrow. “The thing do is to rest and recover well and come back again as positive as we can, because the team we play tomorrow is also coming in from a loss”, Bopanna added. I take pride in the fact that I always come through under pressure. I could not strike well in my service game, and it put us on our back foot straightway.
After winning their first title in almost three months at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, Hingis and Mirza took two surprising straight-set exits at the French Open and Wimbledon.
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The use of the “I” formation by the Indians, wherein the player on the net stands on the middle line and is thus able to dart to either side while the partner serves, followed up by penetrative lobs by Mirza did unsettle the rhythm of the Americans in the beginning.
