Australia's Anastasia Rodionova survived a boorish Delhi crowd and spirited resistance from Sania Mirza to strike gold in women's singles at the R.K. Khanna tennis stadium here on Saturday.
The Australian won 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(3) in two hours and 13 minutes, but not before Sania had saved four match-points in a thrilling third set.
Neither party looked intent on closing things out before the home favourite decided things with a double-fault on Rodionova's fifth match-point.
Rodionova had earlier served for the match at 5-3, but Sania saved a match-point and broke the Australian to even things out. The Indian was a point away from losing, thrice over, again in the 12th game, when she served to stay in the match at 5-6. But three deuces and a hold later, a tie-breaker was enforced, where her challenge finally gave up the ghost.
After mini-breaks had been swapped like postage stamps, Rodionova accelerated to 6-3 and three more match-points. Perhaps, distracted by an insensitive rant in the stands, Sania chose this moment to serve out serve her ninth, and most crucial, double fault to settle for the silver.
The match had earlier begun in a characteristic fashion, with five breaks of serve. And when Rodionova reversed the trend in the sixth game to go 4-2 up, the hold appeared to be pivotal to the set. She broke Sania again in the seventh game for 5-2, but couldn't close out the set just yet. That required another lacklustre game by Sania, who surrendered serve once more to lose 3-6.
The Australian managed to get on the board first up in the second set, but Sania, buoyedby a voluble crowd, managed to piece her game together. Her forehands crunchier, her serve slightly more efficient, her resolve intact — she broke Rodionova in the third and fifth games to tie the match.
Sania drew first blood in the decider. She went ahead 2-0, inclusive of a break, only to surrender that advantage in the fourth game. By now, the crowd had assumed the proportions of a gang of foul-mouthed sailors, cheering winners and faults alike, also making certain their cell phones were ringing when they weren't being hollered into, particularly during points. At least somebody made the right noises, but that was later, after the match had ended.
“I think what's important is that I gave my best. It's an honour to be playing for my country,” Sania said.
Rodionova, a Russian-born Antipodean of recent origin, said, “Now I feel like I'm really Australian. She played great on the match-points, but I knew I'd get my chance and I was ready for it.”
Sally Peers added another bronze to Australia's tally with a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 win over compatriot Olivia Rogowska.
