Australian Open, Melbourne, GS 2000, Jan 16-29, 2023

[PKBasu]

The Mixed Doubles final is on Friday morning, starting at 6:30am IST.

[Rajiv]

Rohan/Sania lose the S1 on a TB, and Rohan the weakest link, got broken twice, first in the opening game and then later to give back the break and also in the TB , gave away 2 breaks , so not only poor serving but missing volleys and spraying wide , has given the Brazilians the first set.

Hope they can mount a comeback.

[Rajiv]

So a GS title eluded Sania in her swansong and partly due to Rohan being totally off color , while Sania's fabled flat stroked forehand was potent as ever.
And in her last hurrah or last dance whatever she called, good to see her attired in a way she started her career and not like recent times which resembled a Iranian sportswomen.

[rajitghosh]

Don't know when we'll see an Indian in a Grand Slam final again.

[sameerph]

Sad that Sania's glittering career could not end in a grand slam title. But, still it is amazing that she did keep it going till she was 36 and at least gave us some joy in doubles even after she was done with singles where was by far our best ever womens player. Now, we will have to wait and see when someone comes up to that grand slam final level even in doubles.

[arjun2761]

Actually, somewhat optimistic that we may be able to get a GS finalist in doubles given the number of top 100 doubles players we have. Most of them other than Rohan are pretty young for doubles specialists…

[jayakris]

Thank you Sania for everything. It has been some ride!

[PKBasu]

I watched most of the match, but had some issues with electricity supply at home (we have an inverter, which was malfunctioning, and I didn't get this repaired before the MxD final). So watching was somewhat intermittent, but I did get to watch most of the key points, especially in the first set. Rohan was a terrible let-down, unfortunately. He just doesn't have the temperament for the big match. This is easier said than done, but involves that ineffable quality that separates champions (Sania, Leander, Mahesh) from others. Rohan managed to win one Slam, but could have won more -- and certainly should have today. At 5-3, his serve was broken again in the first set -- a shambolic miss. He was missing a lot of overheads and volleys, and the biggest mistake he made was to engage in long baseline rallies with Matos, which the latter invariably won.

Anyway, let me just say a big Thank You to Sania for this glorious ride. Seven Slam titles (6 Open ones, 1 junior) make a wonderful trophy cabinet, and the thrills along the way have been worth every minute.

[suresh]

Rohan was a terrible let-down, unfortunately. He just doesn't have the temperament for the big match. This is easier said than done, but involves that ineffable quality that separates champions (Sania, Leander, Mahesh) from others.

I wanted to make the same point but somehow held back. I watched the SF and the first set of the F. Rohan gets tight at important moments while Sania tightens her game at such moments. They were lucky to win the SF.