It was a bad day in office for Indian tennis players at Wimbledon as Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza lost their respective matches in London on Thursday.
While Paes lost his men’s doubles semifinal, Mirza went out of the mixed doubles at the quarterfinal stage. Bopanna on the other hand, lost both his, men’s doubles semifinal and mixed doubles quarterfinal, matches on the lone grass court major.
Bopanna partnering France’s Edouard Roger—Vasselin lost a five—set battle to top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States. The 14th seeds lost 7—6(4), 4—6, 3—6, 7—5, 3—6 in two hours and 48 minutes on Court No.1.
This was Bopanna’s best ever men’s doubles outing at Wimbledon, having reached the quarterfinal previously in 2010.
Returning to play on the same court after a couple of hours, Bopanna also lost his mixed doubles tie, partnering China’s Zheng Jie, to Dutch—Russian duo Jean—Julien Rojer and Vera Dushevina, who beat the seventh seeds 6—3, 6—3, 6—3 in one hour and 31 minutes.
This was, too, the Bangalorean’s best ever performance at the All England Club in this category.
Meanwhile on Court No.2, fourth seeded veterans Paes with Czech partner Radek Stepanek also lost a five—setter to Croat—Brazilian pairing Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo.
The 12th seeds won 3—6, 6—4, 6—1, 3—6, 6—3 in two hours and 55 minutes.
This was Paes’ best outing at Wimbledon men’s doubles since 2008, when he reached the semifinals as well. The experienced Indian won the title way back in 1999 with Mahesh Bhupathi.
Mirza, India’s only female representative, also lost in the mixed battle.
Eighth seeded Canadian—French pair Daniel Nestor and Kristina Mladenovic upset second seeds Horia Tecau of Romania and Mirza 7—6(5), 7—6(5) in one hour and 46 minutes.
Mirza equalled her best performance here in mixed doubles. Her previous best was the last eight stage in 2011.
