Xtra Time Web Desk: The experienced pair of Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza defeated Ramkaumar Ramanathan and Ankita Raina 6-2 7-6 (5) in the historic all-Indian mixed doubles first round match at the Wimbledon on Friday.
It was the first time in open era that two Indian teams competed against each other at a Grand Slam tournament.
Ramkumar, who had made 21 unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the singles decided to team up with the No 1 women’s player in the country.
Rohan and Sania had a cake walk, winning the first set with ease. But Ramkumar and Raina put up a good fight in the second set. They even led for a brief period with a break of serve.
Mirza has also moved to women’s doubles second round with Bethanie Mattek-Sands while Raina and her American partner Lauren Davis lost in straight sets to the US pair of Asia Muhammad and Jessica Pegula on Thursday night.
The 14th seeds disposed off the challenge from the Raina-Davis pair 6-3 6-2 in 70 minutes.
Bopanna and Divij Sharan are already out, having lost their men’s doubles opening round match.