Rio 2016 Olympics Tennis, Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna: Match postponed due to rain

In the women’s doubles category, Sania has already crashed out after losing 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 to China’s Shuai Zhang and Shuai Peng with partner Prarthana Thombare. In the men’s doubles category, Rohan Bopanna lost his first round match with Leander Paes in straight sets. Mixed doubles is the last event remaining for India in tennis. Catch the live tennis score and tennis updates from the tennis match here.

Live Tennis Score: Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna

0225 hrs IST: Now Sania and Bopanna have to start on Thursday. They will take on Sam Sotsar and Jonathan Peers in the first round of mixed doubles

0115 hrs IST: Okay! That is that then! Barring six matches, all others have been postponed. Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna will play on Thursday

2340 hrs IST: This is getting bad. There not be any play before 1600 hrs Brazil time. That means we have to wait till 0230 hrs IST before any match begins

2200 hrs IST: Latest from Rio, there will be no play before midnight in tennis. Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna have to wait

2130 hrs IST: No play at the tennis court as rain continues to hit the city. It looks unlikely to that play will happen shortly

Mirza-Thombare crash out in first round

Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare had their serve broken eight times in the match. (Source: Twitter)

Sania Mirza and Prarthana Thombare crashed out of women’s doubles event at the Rio 2016 Olmypics in the first round. The Indian pairing lost 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 to Chinese pairing of Shuai Zhang and Shuai Peng in a marathon two hours and 44 minutes encounter.

Slated last on court nine, the serve was erratic in the opening set which saw three breaks of serves with a tiebreak needed to decide matters. In the tiebreak, Zhang and Peng came out touch better to win 8-6. Mirza and Thombare started the second much better to break the Chinese pair early and lead 2-0 and then 3-1. But their serve was broken soon to level matters at 5-5. Mirza-Thombare did well to break back immediately and then close out the second to force a third.

Sania Mirza hopes to perform well at Rio 2016 Olympics

Sania Mirza at the launch of her book ‘Ace against Odds’ in Mumbai. (Source: PTI)

Tennis ace Sania Mirza today said she is excited to compete at the upcoming Olympic Games in Brazil and hoped to put up good performance along with other athletes.

“I am leaving for Canada tomorrow and then for Rio Olympics from there. I am looking forward. We are the biggest contingent that’s going. We are really excited and hopefully we can put up a good performance,” Sania, told reporters on the sidelines of a fashion show event here. Sania will team up with Prarthana Thombare in the women’s doubles and with Rohan Bopanna in mixed doubles in the Games.

Earlier, after inaugurating the fashion show, Sania Mirza said “Comfort for me is the most important. I always say this. I actually don’t know a lot about fashion to be very honest. I have great stylists. Actually, my sister also helps me…I have a good team around me.”

Sania Mirza Profile

Sania Mirza will play in Rio 2016 Olympics in women’s doubles and mixed doubles category. (Source: Express Photo)

Sania Mirza, 29, has qualified for Rio 2016 Olympics on the back of her World No 1 status in women’s doubles as of June 6 – the cutoff ranking point to qualify for the Summer Olympics. Playing at her third Olympics and in women’s doubles category as well, Mirza will partner Prarthana Thombare in the competition. At the 2008 Olympics, she had played just women’s doubles (with Sunitha Rao) and lost in the second round. At London Olympics, she partnered Rushmi Chakravarthi and lost in the first round. Then in the mixed doubles event, she reached the quarters with Leander Paes before bowing out. Since then, the Hyderabadi has excelled in the doubles category with her Swiss partner Martina Hingis. Mirza likes to play on the deuce side of the court thanks to a huge forehand that bothered opponents even when she used to play singles in the early 2000’s. Then an injury forced her to make a decision on whether she wanted to retire or give up the single’s career and focus on the less arduous doubles career. In Rio, Mirza will play mixed doubles with Rohan Bopanna.