Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna showed the final flicker will be brighter than a fully lit candle
Sania Mirza will have a chance at silverware in her final Grand Slam match as she reaches the Mixed Doubles Finals with Rohan Bopanna at the 2023 Australian Open.
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna
On Wednesday night, the star Indian duo of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna rocked and rolled, as they outlasted Desirae Krawczyk and Neal Skupski and stormed into the mixed doubles final at the 2023 Australian Open. Sample this, an injured Sania is 35 and Rohan is 42. The combined age of 77, the romantic relics showed the nuances of doubles play for one more time.
There was chemistry and passion as they won a tight match with the right mix of experience and nuances of doubles. Both the Indians had not planned to go this far in the draw, really. They were to play at the US Open but Sania got injured. She then took a long break before announcing the AO would be her goodbye Grand Slam.
There was emotion plus tears for the Mirza family and Bopanna family to watch the tandem tear the rivals. Doubles is a dying art and mixed doubles is played only at the Majors. Rohan had said he is playing for the love of the sport while Sania wanted her farewell to be in Melbourne.
Her rise began Down Under almost two decades ago. To bid adios was a hard decision. She had rocked in singles at the AO 18 years ago before becoming a pure doubles pro. That was due to injuries over and over again.
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First Grand Slam title on line for Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna as partners
It was heartbreak at Wimbledon for Sania in the mixed doubles semis but the heat of Melbourne has suited the evergreen Indians well. They have shown how doubles are played, and covered the court with the right chemistry. Rohan is solid as a player with a strong serve and good groundstrokes.
That he paired up a few times before with the Hyderabadi stood out. Both these players are parents and have family duties, too. But to get this far has been fab. There was heartbreak for this Indian duo in 2016 when they lost the doubles bronze medal playoff at the Rio Olympics. If they win in Melbourne, it will be a redemption of sorts.
Rohan had told First Sportz earlier that playing with Sania is special as he wants to show the younger generation a few things. Sania was craving to do well in her last Major. She talked of focusing on son Izhaan. Before that, Super Mom has shown her class again. Her last tournament will be in Dubai in February. Billions are wishing the Indians can somehow lift the trophy in Melbourne. They need love and luck in loads.
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