India’s Mixed Doubles Success! – French Open 2012

Written by: Staff on 5th June 2012

India's Mixed Doubles Success! - French Open 2012

epa03084278 Leander Paes of India celebrates a point in his mixed doubles final match with Elena Vesnina of Russia against Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States of America and Horia Tecau of Romania during day fourteen of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Tecau/Mattek-Sands won the match. EPA/MARK KOLBE POOL |

Mixed doubles at the Majors is rarely given any coverage despite the fact many top players enter and play in the draw. While it may have less intensity than the singles or doubles draws alone, there is definitely more potential for fun and light-hearted competition! This year, Indian squads/players have knocked out the top two seeds in the Mixed draw and their names are synonymous with exciting doubles and superb touch.

Leander Paes, one of the game’s greatest in terms of quick hands and doubles skills, has made it to the semifinals with his partner Elena Vesnina of Russia. They knocked out 10sballs.com’s friend Max Mirnyi and Liezel Huber – It seems as if upsets are the main story line of this year’s French Open! Paes is of course one of the greatest doubles players ever with

On the other side of the Mixed draw, Sania Mirza (who did not make it into the Women’s singles draw), is partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi. If you recall, Sania Mirza was touted to be the next top 10 player from India as she shot up the rankings amid good results around the world. Endorsements and media coverage was extensive on her and she became a national hero! It seems like she and Bhupathi are producing another string of good wins, including one over #2 seeds Mike Bryan and Kveta Peschke, to make it into the semifinals. Bhupathi has been winning Mixed Doubles titles since 1996 and has shared this success with Mirza too (2009 Australian Open title).

Could this potentially set up an Indian vs Indian final at the French this year? Yes! Paes and Bhupathi can definitely “take over” during matches and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have experienced partners this late in a Slam. Their lightning-fast hands coupled with solid, veteran female partners are taking them to the finals and while anything can happen in Slams (especially this one!), it’s hard to bet against India’s players right now!

Topics: 10sballs.com, Elena Vesnina, French Open 2012, Leander Paes, Liezel Huber, Mahesh Bhupathi, Max Mirnyi, Roland Garros, Sania Mirza, Thomas Shubert

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

The Latest Fuzz : A bit of Buzz from Doc J says:

June 25, 2012 at 7:01 am

[…] Open: Paes-Vesnina outindiabloomsIndian Sports news -IBNLive.com -10sBallsall 323 news […]