The experienced pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza defeated the brand new combination of Ramkaumar Ramanathan and Ankita Raina 6-2, 7-6 (5) in the historic all-Indian mixed doubles first round match on Friday.
It was the first time in open era that two Indian teams competed against each other at a Grand Slam tournament.
The contest finally brought a Grand Slam debut for Ramkumar, who has made 21 attempts to qualify for the singles main draw.
While the first set ended quickly in favour of the veterans, Ramkumar and Raina presented a good fight in the second set, which even they led for a brief period with a break of serve.
Bopanna was clearly the best player on the court with his powerful serve and solid ground strokes from the baseline as well as the ability to execute a superior net game.
On expected lines, Ramkumar served big while Raina gave her all after growing in confidence.
Mirza’s serve is still not at its best and would improve as she plays more matches.
Djoker in last 16
Defending champion Novak Djokovic survived a rocky third set to defeat American qualifier Denis Kudla to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon for the 13th time.
The world number one triumphed over 114-ranked Kudla 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) to book a place in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the 55th time.
His opponent on Monday will be No 17-seeded Cristian GarÃn, who beat Pedro MartÃnez 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.
On the women’s side, No 2-seeded Aryna Sabalenka is into the second week of play, and on the verge of a career breakthrough. The hard-hitting Belarusian beat qualifier MarÃa Camila Osorio Serrano 6-0, 6-3 to reach the fourth round, and she might be overdue for a deep run in a Grand Slam.
Sabalenka next faces No 18 Elena Rybakina, who eliminated Shelby Rogers 6-1, 6-4.
Also still in contention is No 7-seeded Iga Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, who breezed into the fourth round by beating Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1, 6-0.
No 21 Ons Jabeur vomited next to the backstop before her first match point and then finished off former Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. No 8 Karolina Pliskova swept Tereza Martincová 6-3, 6-3.