Rio 2016: Mirza and Bopanna fail to reach finals

Disappointment for tennis fans as Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna went down to USA’s Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram in the mixed doubles semi-finals 6-2, 2-6, 3-10 at the Olympics. The couple couldn’t clinch a silver but India's long wait for a medal at the ongoing Rio Olympics is still on. The duo will now play a bronze medal play-off.

#RioWithTOI #Tennis - #IND @MirzaSania/@rohanbopanna lose 6-2, 2-6, 3-10 to #USA Venus/Ram in mixed doubles semis, will contest for bronze

— TOI Sports News (@TOISportsNews) August 13, 2016

The fourth seeded Indian pair dominated the first set as India led 6-2. Although, the second set was in Americans favour with a 6-2, landed them all to a tie level 1-1 as Venus Williams seemed to be getting back into her groove. The clincher was the tie-breaker round which the US air won easily 10-3.

Read: I don’t feel extra pressure, just feel responsible, says Sania Mirza about the quest for an Olympic medal

Earlier in the day, Sania's former doubles partner Martina Hingis recorded her return to the Olympic Games after a 20-year absence by reaching the women's doubles final. With her Swiss partner Timea Bacsinszky she defeated Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 in Friday's semi-final. The Swiss team who will face Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina for the gold medal.

Also read: Did not achieve the “desired results”, says Martina Hingis about ending partnership with Sania Mirza

Meanwhile, all eyes are on now Sania and Bopanna’s partnership, to clinch a bronze at the Games.  India has only one tennis medal in its entire Olympic history that came through Leander Paes, who won a singles bronze at 1996 Atlanta Games. Here's hoping India gets another one.

Feature Image Credit: Indiatoday.com

Read more from our Rio series here

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