Sania Mirza is an experienced Indian tennis player.© AFP
Sania Mirza and her Czech partner Lucie Hradeka displayed a fearless brand of tennis, but much younger and better American singles players Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula prevailed in the women’s doubles third round of the French Open in Paris on Tuesday. Despite their combined age of 72, Mirza and Hradeka produced some high-quality tennis, but lost 4–6 3–6 to Pegula, ranked 11th in singles and world number 23 Gauff.
Mirza was impressive with her lower and angled forehand, while Haradeka’s power-packed backhand hit from the baseline was a treat to watch, but the Americans got the crucial points that determined the outcome of the match.
Mirza and Hardeka were down 3-5 in the opening set, but Gauff made a double mistake to give a break opportunity while serving for the set.
Mirza easily dispatched a volley to get the breakpoint for the team. Heradeka next served and at the age of 30, Sania threw an overhead smash and hit an American set point, which was converted when the check made a mistake in the return. Mirza and Hardeka had found a measure of their rivals by now and started hitting out fearlessly and confidently.
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The Indo-Czech pair broke Pegula’s serve in the first game to take the lead in the second set and Mirza took a 2-0 lead with an easy catch. Gough’s serve was under pressure. At 30-all, Mirza went for a deep comeback, but he went past the baseline. Hradeka also played big shots but his unforced error put the Americans on board. Pegula found a surprise angled winner who ran from the corner of the court when Haradeka served 15-40, making it 2-2. He was in danger of dropping serve again but Mirza saved three breakpoints in the sixth game. The Americans also saved three break opportunities.
However the Americans found a way to get another break and Pegula ended the match and the pair went on to the quarterfinals.
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