Sania Mirza-Rohan Bopanna lose Australian Open 2023 mixed doubles title to Brazilian pair

The Indian duo went down in straight sets.

Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna finished as runners-up in the mixed doubles final losing to the Brazilian pair Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos in straight sets (7-6, 6-2) at the Australian Open 2023. The final defeat notwithstanding, Mirza has certainly ended her Grand Slam career on a high.

The Brazilian pair, after winning the first set, took complete control of the match. Bopanna’s serve was supposed to be the USP for India but unfortunately, the 43-year-old couldn't deliver.

The match did not start on a positive note for the Indian pair as Rohan Bopanna lost his first service game. However, fortunes changed as they attacked Stefani's serve and levelled the set. Rohan Bopanna was serving for the first set at (5-3) but Stefani and Matos held back, prolonging the set making a comeback and levelling scores (5-5). Like Stefani, Bopanna also struggled with his serve.

Mirza and Bopanna had a set point to play at (6-5) with the game score levelled at 40-40. Sania Mirza couldn't lobby the second serve over the net with the set heading for a tiebreak at (6-6). Generally when the scores are tied 40-40 in a game then a deuce is played along with an advantage. However, in mixed doubles only one point is played to decide the winner. 

The Indian pair attacked Matos frequently in the first seven games. However, the Brazilian came back strong settling in and playing the baseline shots well which looked like his strength. 

From leading 5-3, the Indian mixed doubles pair lost the opening set 6-7(2-7). Mirza and Bopanna never looked in control during the tie-breaker with the Brazilian pair winning seven points to India’s two. In contrast, the Indian pair were nervous in the last few points in the first set.

They arrived in the final have loads of experience having played under immense pressure throughout their career but was the other way around towards the end of the set. Overall both the Indian and Brazilian pairs broke two serve’s each.

The second set did not start on a positive note for the Indians as they trailed 1-4 at the start. This time it was Sania Mirza who couldn't hold back her serve losing a crucial game after being a set down. Nothing was going in India’s favour as Stefani and Matos marched forward quickly winning the second set 6-2 and lifting the coveted title.

Overall, Sania Mirza’s forehand was a treat to watch (especially in the second set) along with accurate angles and placements. The 36-year-old is set to retire next month and will look to end her career on a positive note by winning the WTA Dubai Open title.