Wimbledon Day 5: Mirza-Bopanna win historic all-Indian match

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek advanced to the Round of 16 while Stefanos Tsitsipas and Garbine Muguruza were knocked out.

Indian tennis superstars Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza defeated the brand new combination of Ramkumar Ramanathan and Ankita Raina 6-2, 7-6 in a historic all-Indian mixed doubles first round clash at Wimbledon 2021.

It was the first time in the open era that two Indian teams competed against each other at a Grand Slam tournament. It turned out to be the Grand Slam debut for Ramkumar. He has previously made 21 unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the main singles draw of a tennis major.

Ultimately, the experienced duo of Mirza and Bopanna comfortably won the contest in just one hour and 10 minutes. The experienced Indian pair will next face an all-British challenge in the form of Aidan McHugh and Emily Webley-Smith in the second round.

Djokovic moves to the next round, Tsitsipas' campaign ends

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was at his usual best as he dispatched Denis Kudla to advance to the last 16 of Wimbledon. The Serbian superstar suffered few jitters in the third set, however, composed himself to win 6-4, 6-3, 7-6. Chile’s Cristian Garin will be Djoker’s opponent in the Round of 16.

On the other hand, ninth seed Diego Schwartzman suffered a surprising loss to unheralded Marton Fucsovics. The 29-year-old Hungarian stretched the diminutive Argentine in the first two sets before Schwartzman tried to find his rhythm. Ultimately, it proved to be too late as the World No. 48 took a major scalp after a 6-3, 6-3, 6-7, 6- 4 victory.

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World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas’ disappointing Wimbledon campaign finally came to a conclusion. Stefanos teamed up with younger brother Petros in the men’s doubles category. Once again, it was a first-round exit from the grass-court Grand Slam for the Greek. The Tsitsipas brothers lost 5-7, 6-7 to the British-Spanish pair of Cameron Norrie and Jaume Munar.

Elsewhere, 2017 Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza exited in the third round of the competition after being beaten by Ons Jabeur. The scoreline read 7-5, 3-6, 2-6 in favour of Jabeur, who later described the match as the best moment of her career so far.

Swiatek, Sabalenka make light work of their opponents

On the other hand, women's tennis sensations Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka comfortably made it through to the last 16 of the women's singles event.

2020 Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek thrashed Romania's Irina Camelia-Begu 6-1, 6-0 in her third round match. The Pole who had won the 2018 junior Wimbledon title is now aiming for the big prize. Swiatek's will face Ons Jabeur in the round of 16.

Second seed Sabalenka beat Colombia's Maria Camila Osorio Serrano in the third round. The Belarusian triumphed 6-0, 6-3 in a lopsided contest. Sabalenka's pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam singles title will continue when she will take on Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in the next round.

A day to remember for Russians

Elsewhere, fifth seed Andrey Rublev advanced to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time ever. The 23-year-old recovered after losing a nerve-racking second set to progress. Rublev defeated Italian Fabio Fognini 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to break new ground.

Another Russian who was in action on Friday was Karen Khachanov. His contest was more straightforward. Khachanov overcame Frances Tiafoe, the conqueror of Stefanos Tsitsipas, in straight sets. A 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory means he will join his compatriot in the last 16 of Wimbledon.

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