Indian star Sania Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Saturday bowed out of the women’s doubles event at the Wimbledon Championships following a straight-set defeat, here.
Mirza, who has returned to grass court Grand Slam after three years, and Mattek-Sands lost 4-6 3-6 to the Russian pair of Elena Vesnina and Veronika Kudermetova in one hour and 28 minutes.
Mirza is still alive in the tournament as she will play in the mixed doubles second round with compatriot Rohan Bopanna.
The highest ranked Indian pair will take on United Kingdom’s pair of Aidan McHugh and Emily Webley-Smith for a place in third round.
Opposites attract
Nick Kyrgios admitted he felt “real pressure” playing alongside Venus Williams in the Wimbledon mixed doubles on Friday.
The pair teamed up for the first time and defeated Austin Krajicek and Sabrina Santamaria 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on a packed Court Two.
“I felt a bit of pressure playing with Venus. I really wanted to win,” said the Australian.
“I’ve never really wanted to win a mixed doubles or a doubles match that much before. I was really trying hard.”
Williams is a veteran of mixed doubles at the Slams having partnered US compatriot Justin Gimelstob to the Australian and French Open titles in 1998.
Kyrgios said he had always wanted to play mixed with a ‘legend’ of the sport and Venus fitted the bill.
“I think half the time she was just laughing at my accent,” said Kyrgios who has never made it past the second round in mixed doubles at the majors.
“I just talk a lot when I’m out there. Like, you’ve seen videos of me when I’m playing singles, I’m just trying to talk. It’s just a bad habit.
“We’re very different. I think she’s quite timid and very quiet. I’m a bit loud and talkative. At least we made it work.”