India shining at Oz Open, Sania-Bhupathi wins mixed doubles

Melbourne, Feb 1 (PTI) Sania Mirza Sunday became the first Indian woman to capture a Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open mixed doubles trophy with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi, whose bulging Grand Slam kitty grew fat to 11 crowns.

The Indian wild card pair crushed Andy Ram and Nathalie
Dechy 6-3 6-1 in just 55 minutes here.

This victory came a day after India had found a new
singles Open champion in Yuki Bhambri, who lifted the junior
title, thus capping the country's campaign at the first Grand
Slam of the year on a high note.

It was Sania and Bhupathi's first Grand Slam title
together. They had ended runners-up here last year.

Sania, who already has many firsts to her credit as far
as women's tennis in the country is concerned, has made a
fantastic start to the season after coming through the wrist
injury, which marred her 2008 campaign.

The win also gave Bhupathi his seventh title in mixed
doubles overall and second at the Australian Open, following
his 2006 triumph with Martina Hingis.

They also got richer by 1,34,460 Australian dollars.

Basking in her new-found Australian Open glory, Sania
said she now expects Indian tennis to reach the next level
after the slew of excellent shows in the first Grand Slam of
the Year.

"It is (a very good tournament for Indian tennis.) I
mean, even in the juniors, we had a Grand Slam champion as
well. So, yes, it's been a great two weeks," a beaming Sania
said.

Asked how much impact it would have back home, the
Hyderabadi ace said, "Let's hope a lot. You know, it's
great. I don't remember the last time when we had so many -- I
mean, he (Bhupathi) played the (men's doubles) finals, we won
today, Yuki won. It's been a great two weeks."

"Let's hope a lot more people play, and tennis grows.
It's been growing. It might take it to another level," said
Sania.

Personally, it was nothing short of a dream-come-true
moment, admitted Sania.

"It's always a dream to win a Grand Slam. That's what we
all play for I think when we're younger. It's just great. It
makes it more special because it's with someone that I know
for so long and so well," she said.

"I think it's a feeling that you can't really describe.
You're obviously very happy. It's a dream come true," she
added.

Bhupathi, in fact, could have finished with a double
crown but for the narrow loss in the men's doubles final
Saturday and Sania believes the game is poised to reach the
next level in India.

In the summit clash, Bhupathi was solid with his service
and displayed great hands at the net throughout the match.
Sania complemented him with powerful forehands.

The Indians started the match on a confident note,
breaking Ram in the opening game and then Bhupathi holding his
serve to go 2-0 up.

They, however, could not hold on to their lead for long
as Mirza lost her serve in the fourth game to hand Ram-Dechy
duo the opportunity to level the scores at 2-2.

Bhupathi and Sania were soon in their elements, breaking
Dechy and going 4-3 up.

Subsequently, Sania held her serve and then rounded off
the set with an immaculate forehand volley on Ram's serve.

Despite the comforting lead, the Indians showed no mercy
to Ram and Dechy in the second set and breezed their way to
the title.

The only moment when they looked under some sort of
pressure was in the third game of the second set but Sania
weathered Ram's full-blooded shots to held her serve.

The Indians broke their opponents twice in the second set
-- first Dechy in the fourth game and then Ram in the sixth
game -- to go up 5-1.

Sania then rounded off the encounter on her service game
to pocket the title. PTI AT