The real reason why Sania-Martina split

One of the most successful women’s doubles pairs, Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Sania Mirza, have parted ways and they will no longer be playing together.

Earlier, Sania-Bopanna had defeated Australia’s Sam Stosur and Jonathan Peers in the first round easily (7-5, 6-4) to reach the quarter-finals.

“It’s really hard. The Olympics come every four years, and right now I don’t know if I’ll play the next Olympics”.

“As tennis players we are fortunate enough”.

Although, after the first set ended, the pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna found the counter attacking of Venus William and Rajeev Ram, too hot to handle.

The world number one doubles player Sania said the challenge would be to overcome mental fatigue as she seeks her first Olympic medal from three appearances. It’s the first time in our tennis that we have another chance to take a shot at a medal.

Rio de Janeiro: Medal hopes for India in Rio Olympics were kept alive by tennis duo Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna and boxer Vikas Krishan Yadav on Friday as they moved ahead in their respective games amid the continued flop show by the Indian contingent. While the two won the first set, they lost the second and later on the tie-breaker in a close fight and failed to proceed any further.

The duo swept through the WTA circuit in the second half of previous year and will be defending points for winning five titles until the end of the season – including the US Open Grand Slam event and the WTA Finals.

Pressure is no excuse, Sania said, adding: “Pressure is something that’s always there no matter where we play”.

Powerful serves from the racquet of Bopanna meant that the Indians only conslidated the break. Mirza and Bopanna were solid throughout the first set, never relenting and eventually wrapping it up 6-2.

There was a sense of unease as the Indians took the court for the bronze medal contest. “We have to move on”, a visibly shaken Sania said.

Sania then held her serve to give the Indians a 3-1 lead.

Indian started on an ominous note as Bopannna was broken in the second game of the match.

Saina will face World No. 61 Maria Ulitina of Ukraine in a Group G match and ninth seed Sindhu will clash with Glasgow Commonwealth Games champion Li Michelle of Canada in Group M to complete the preliminary group engagements.