LONDON: Experienced couples from Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza beat the new combination of Ramkaumar Ramanathan and Ankita Raina 6-2 7-6 (5) in the historic first double round match all India at The Wimbledon here on Friday.
This was the first time in the open era that two Indian teams competed each other in the Grand Slam tournament.
The contest finally brought the Grand Slam debut for Ramkumar, which had made 21 attempts to qualify for a single main draw from the tennis department.
While the first set ends quickly supporting veterans, Ramkumar and Raina presenting a good fight in the second set, which they even lead for a short period of time with serving breaks.
Bopanna is clearly the best player in court with a strong bachelor and solid stroke of the baseline and the ability to carry out a superior clean game.
In the expected line, Ramkumar serves great while the Raina gives him all after growing with confidence.
Mirza serve is still not best and will increase when he plays more matches.
Mirza has moved to also move to the second round of women with Bethanie Mattek-Sands while Raina and her partner of the American Lauren Davis lost in a direct set of Asia Muhammad and Jessica Pegula forces on Thursday night.
The 14th seed dropped the challenge of the Raina-Davis pair 6-3 6-2 in 70 minutes.
Bopanna and Divir Sharan had come out, after losing their son’s double opening round match.