The mixed doubles quarterfinal match between India’s Leander Paes and Sania Mirza and their Belarussian opponents was postponed till Saturday because of fading light at the Wimbledon courts in London on Friday.
The top-seeded Belarussian pair of Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka were leading 7-5, 3-2 when play was called off for the day. The contest will resume on Saturday.
The two teams went neck and neck till 5-5 before Sania and Paes were broken in the 12th game to concede the first set which lasted for 47 minutes.
The two teams were not prepared to give an inch to their rivals as they battled it out in fading light.
Sania and Paes, despite the wranglings among players ahead of the Games, showed good understanding but it was their serves which let them down to some extent.
The Indian pair struggled to hold their serves in the fourth and tenth games but just about managed to ensure that they did not concede the game by engaging their opponents into long rallies.
With the score on 5-6, Sania and Paes paid the price for an unforced in the 12th game which gave the Belarus duo the set and momentum.
In the second set, the score was 3-2 in favour of the Belarussian duo when play was called off.
