New Delhi :
Indian Tennis ace Sania Mirza and her partner Ivan Dodig have lost the title clash of the Australian Open's Mixed-Doubles. America’s Abigail Spears and Colombia’s Juan Sebastian Cabel emerged victorious after beating the Indian-Croatian pair 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the prestigious trophy at Melbourne Park.
The unseeded pair showed some great class of play as they played a really aggressive game in the first set to downplay Mirza and Dodig to a paltry 16 points in the first set. They won the first set 6-2.
In the second set, Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig showed signs of a fightback with three consecutive games in the second set. But soon after they lost grip on the match as they went on to lose the penultimate set and ultimately giving the game to American-Colombian pair.
With this loss, Sania missed the chance to make it her 7th Grand Slam title. She last won a Mixed-Doubles title at US Open in 2014 with Brazil’s Bruno Soares.
Here are frequent updates from the match:
# And its over. Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabel beat Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-4 to win the Australian Open Mixed Doubles title.
# Powerful play from Spears and Cabel. Sad that Mirza-Dodig losing grip over the match after making a lead in the match. Its 5-4 now.
# Amazing play from Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabel. What a fightback. Taking two back to back games they make it an equal affair in the second set. Its 4-4 now
# It's back on serve in the second set after Sania Mirza's serve is broken by Spears and Caba
# Spears/Cabel showing a fantastic resistance. Not letting their opponent race away with games. Its 4-3 now.
# Another games for Cabel and Spears. Mirza and Dodig race to a 4-2 lead in the second set.
# Quick and aggressive play from Ivan Dodig, his powerful serve helps them gain another game. It's 4-1 now.
# Cabal/Spears opens their account in the second set making it 3-1 now.
# Excellent play from Mirza and Dodig. Takes 3 games in a row now. Its 3-0 now in the second set.
# Mirza-Dodig making a comeback. Takes second consecutive game in the second set. Its 2-0 now.
# Cabal/Spears have won 9 straight sets so far at this Australia Open- although unseeded they are the form team.
# Second set starts and the Indian-Croatian pair looking good. Takes first game of 2nd set. Its 1-0 now.
# What a great show. First set goes to Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabel 6-2. Just 26 minutes they took making it 1-0 in the game.
# Its set point now. 5-2 now.
# Commendable comeback from Mirza and Dodig. Fighting hard to stay in hunt for winning first set. Its 5-2 in first set.
# First set about to end, American-Colombian pair on verge of winning first set.
# Some really great show of play going on. Spears and Cabel takes another game making it 5-1. Need 1 more to win first set.
# Some relief for Sania Mirza. Pair takes a game to stay alive in the match. Its 4-1 now in the first set.
# 4th game ends, and that to goes to the American-Colombian pair. Cabel showing his class in here. More troubles for the Indian-Croatian pair.
# This is poor from Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig, they really need to push up if they want to stay in this final.
# What a play, The American-Colombian pair winning three quick games in a row.
# Some great show of play from Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabel, takes another game after breaking opponent's serve
# Electrifying start to the match, first game goes to Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabel.
# The American-Colombian pair wins toss, takes first serve
# Both the finalist pairs on the court at Melbourne Park
# Match about to start in a moment
