Sania Mirza-Ivan Dodig Defeat Defending Champions Leander Paes-Martina Hingis To Enter Semi-Finals
Sania Mirza-Ivan Dodig, the top seeds in the 2016 Australian Open mixed doubles, put on a disciplined performance to beat the Indo-Swiss pair of Leander Paes-Martina Hingis in the quarter-finals.
Top seeds Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig put up a fabulous performance to defeat the duo of Leander Paes and Martina Hingis 7-6 (7), 6-3 to enter the semi-finals of the mixed doubles in the 2016 Australian Open. (Latest Tennis News)
The Indo-Croatian pair got off to a bad start when they were broken in the very first game of the match. Paes and Hingis extended the advantage to 3-1 but in the fifth game, Sania-Dodig broke Paes' serve and they got back on level terms. Both held their serve but during the tie-break, it was one-way traffic as Sania-Dodig completely dominated proceedings. They won the tie-break 7-1 to clinch the first set.
In the second set, it was the turn of Paes-Hingis to be jolted as their service was broken in the first game. Sania-Dodig did not let go of the advantage and they broke Paes-Hingis in the final game to clinch the set 6-3 and the match.
It was a disappointing result for the Indo-Swiss pair. Paes and Hingis had a golden 2015 when they won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and they were aiming to extend their winning streak.
Sania will be looking to continue her magnificent run in the Australian Open. She has reached the final of the women's doubles event while she is on the verge of yet another Grand Slam final appearance.