Rio 2016: Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna blown away by czechs

India’s tennis campaign at the Rio Olympic Games ended in dejection as Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna were blown away by the Czech team of Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradceka in the bronze medal play-off, here on Sunday.

The Indian pair, who raised hopes of a medal with two consecutive wins to make the semis, suffered a 1-6, 6-7 humiliation in the mixed doubles contest that lasted one hour and 13 minutes.

Mixed doubles was India’s best bet for a medal as it featured only 16 teams and winning three matches would have ensured a medal.

Stepanek was all class in the bronze medal contest as the Czech unleashed his powerful strokes, constructed the rallies and finished points with his superlative display.

The Czechs sprayed the winners all over, catching the Indians by surprise, giving them no breathing space in the opening set. Both Sania and Bopanna lost serve to trail 0-5.

Bopanna saved two set points in the sixth game to save ignominy of being bageled. Lucie came out to serve out the opening set.

It was a disastrous start in the second set too for the Indians with Bopanna dropping serve in the very first game but they broke back Stepanek.