Australian Open 2023: Sania, Bopanna advance; Balaji-Jeevan shock fifth seeds Dodig and Krajicek

Indian men’s doubles pair of N Sriram Balaji and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan continued their good run against formidable fifth seeds Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek in the first round of the Australian Open here on Saturday.

Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan, who came into the tournament as an alternate team, took two hours and 20 minutes to win the first round fixture 7-6 (6) 2-6 6-4 against Croatian Dodig and American Krajicek.

In the mixed doubles event, experienced Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna also advanced to the second round with straight sets wins.

Despite the low number of aces and winners, Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan had more service points and delivered at the most crucial time, converting both their breakpoints.

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The Indian team, participating in their first Grand Slam, won the tie-breaker after saving a set point.

However, they were broken in the sixth and eighth games as Dodig and Krajicek forced a decider. A forehand winner in the seventh game gave Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan crucial breaks in the third set.

Balaji and Nedunchezhiyan, who finished runners-up at the Tata Open Maharashtra earlier this month, will take on French pair of Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin in the second round.

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Mirza and Bopanna beat Jamie Fourlis and Luke Saville 7-5, 6-3 in the first round.

The Indian made a crucial break in the 11th game to take the first set. Mirza and Bopanna dominated the second set, breaking their opponents in the seventh and ninth games.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)