Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi Heading Towards Olympic Fame
PARIS: India’s mixed pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza were strong enough to win the mixed doubles at the French Open by defeating Santiago Gonzalez and Klaudia Jans-Ignacik 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 in the final.
Mahesh Bhupathi Bhupathi, 38, is a booming men’s doubles and mixed doubles player has continued his struggle for more laurel.
“Now I don’t have to think of a gift to give him,” said Sania Mirza after their win while playing as seventh seeds.
Mahesh Bhupathi, Indian actress Lara Dutta’s husband, has dedicated the trophy to his daughter Saira (4 months).
“This one’s for her and I’m really happy,” he said after his second win of the mixed title (the first win being in 1997).
This is for the third time that Sania Mirza and Bhupathi reached a Grand Slam final. Their first win was in 2009 when they were declared victorious in the Australian Open; they were runners up in 2008.
“We play a dangerous kind of tennis. When we’re playing well, it’s kind of hard to beat us,” Bhupathi said while talking in a news conference.
Sania Mirza added: “Every time you enter a tournament you want to win it. That’s something that you enter hoping…You know, we were happy that we could keep the level up over two weeks and come out playing well on the important points. I think that’s what really matters in mixed with the deuce and super tie-breaks.”
Now the delighted pair is set for the wins yet to come.
