Leander Paes and Martina Hingis beat Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig to win the French Open mixed doubles final at Roland Garros. The unseeded Indo-Swiss pair eked out a 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 win over the second seeds in a match that lasted an hour and 28 minutes. Martina Hingis and Leander Paes each completed a career Grand Slam in mixed doubles by winning this title.
When the two pairs of Sania Mirza-Ivan Dodig and Leander Paes-Martina Hingis entered the mixed-doubles final of French Open 2016, it was clear from an Indian perspective that at least one Indian will win a French Open title! A win for Paes would have meant a Grand Slam for him in mixed doubles – i.e. winning all four Majors – something he has already achieved in men’s doubles - an unprecedented and daunting task for someone who is 42 and still chasing the dream of representing his country at the Olympics. He succeeded in achieving the feat.
The 42-year-old Paes has now completed a Career Slam in mixed doubles. It was Paes’s 10th mixed doubles title and 18th Grand Slam title overall. For 35-year-old Hingis, it was Grand Slam title number 22nd and her fifth trophy in mixed doubles.
Despite being the oldest player on court, Paes's alertness and presence of mind made the difference to the outcome of the match. He converted every little opportunity into points. He put away volleys from ferocious returns of both Sania and Dodig and has staked a claim to be part of India's mixed doubles team at the upcoming Rio Olympics.
Paes also owns eight Grand Slam men's doubles trophies. while Hingis - a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame - has five in singles and 12 in women's doubles. Heading into Roland Garros, she had won three majors in a row with Mirza as her doubles partner, but they lost in the third round in Paris.
Second seeds Dodig-Mirza got off to a good start as they won the opening set 6-4. Both were complementing each other well and Dodig's big serve helped the pair in the first set.
Dodig was excellent with his service games in the opening set and hardly lost points. His powerful returns combined with Sania's powerful game made it very tough for Paes and Sania.
Sania Mirza, in particular, was powerful from the baseline as she worked her angles to outsmart Paes-Hingis, who were stationed near the net. It was a strategy which worked but lasted only for a set.
Paes-Hingis fought back to first take the second set 6-4 and the Championship tie-breaker 10-8. Emotions ran high after the win as Paes was nearly in tears when he thanked the support staff, Hingis and his father.
When the two pairs of Sania Mirza-Ivan Dodig and Leander Paes-Martina Hingis entered the mixed-doubles final of French Open 2016, it was clear from an Indian perspective that at least one Indian will win a French Open title! A win for Paes would have meant a Grand Slam for him in mixed doubles – i.e. winning all four Majors – something he has already achieved in men’s doubles - an unprecedented and daunting task for someone who is 42 and still chasing the dream of representing his country at the Olympics. He succeeded in achieving the feat.
The 42-year-old Paes has now completed a Career Slam in mixed doubles. It was Paes’s 10th mixed doubles title and 18th Grand Slam title overall. For 35-year-old Hingis, it was Grand Slam title number 22nd and her fifth trophy in mixed doubles.
Despite being the oldest player on court, Paes's alertness and presence of mind made the difference to the outcome of the match. He converted every little opportunity into points. He put away volleys from ferocious returns of both Sania and Dodig and has staked a claim to be part of India's mixed doubles team at the upcoming Rio Olympics.
Paes also owns eight Grand Slam men's doubles trophies. while Hingis - a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame - has five in singles and 12 in women's doubles. Heading into Roland Garros, she had won three majors in a row with Mirza as her doubles partner, but they lost in the third round in Paris.
Second seeds Dodig-Mirza got off to a good start as they won the opening set 6-4. Both were complementing each other well and Dodig's big serve helped the pair in the first set.
Dodig was excellent with his service games in the opening set and hardly lost points. His powerful returns combined with Sania's powerful game made it very tough for Paes and Sania.
Sania Mirza, in particular, was powerful from the baseline as she worked her angles to outsmart Paes-Hingis, who were stationed near the net. It was a strategy which worked but lasted only for a set.
Paes-Hingis fought back to first take the second set 6-4 and the Championship tie-breaker 10-8. Emotions ran high after the win as Paes was nearly in tears when he thanked the support staff, Hingis and his father.
0 comments:
Post a Comment