More than a billion Indians stayed up Saturday night with hope that the Indian tennis mixed doubles team of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna would assure their country of a first medal at Rio 2016. But it was not to be as the fourth seeds squandered a one-set lead to lose 6-2, 2-6, 3-10 to the American pair of Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram.
They will now take on the Czech combine of Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek in the bronze medal match on Sunday. Suffice to say, it won’t be easy and the Indians will have to be at their very best if they are to secure this last medal-winning opportunity.
As the highest seeds remaining in the draw, much was expected of Mirza and Bopanna against the Americans.
With four Olympic gold medals to her name, Venus Williams looked a shadow of herself in the first set and the Indians took advantage of this to take the opener 6-2 in just 26 minutes.
In the second set, Williams returned to her imperious best to guide the Americans into a 4-2 lead. An inspired Ram was colossal at the net and reeled off a number of outstanding points to force a tie-break (6-2).
The Indians quickly regrouped and looked to have rediscovered their form when leading 3-1. But that would be the last time they led the match as Venus unleashed a number of strong forehands to level the tie-break 3-3.
After that, it was a one-sided contest and the Americans claimed the next seven points to win 10-3.
