Tennis fraternity hails Aus Open champs
Indian tennis fraternity has no doubt that the success of Indian players at the Australian Open would usher in a new era for the game in the country.
Indian tennis fraternity has no doubt that the success of Indian players at the Australian Open would usher in a new era for the game in the country.
Indian players -- Yuki Bhambri, Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi -- put up a dazzling show, bringing home two of the nine titles at stake at the first Grand Slam event of the year.
Yuki won the junior boys singles title on Saturday while Sania-Bhupathi combine lifted the mixed doubles title, first for an Indian team.
India's Davis Cup coach Enrico Piperno says after seeing Sania and Bhupathi's performance in Melbourne, he was sure the Indian mixed doubles team is now capable of winning many more Grand Slams.
Piperno said Sania's improved game and fitness and Bhupathi's red-hot form makes them a lethal pair now.
"This is really exciting. Mahesh is playing impeccable tennis at the moment and Sania has complemented him all through. I watched them playing the semis and I knew that they will win the title this time," Piperno told PTI from Perth, Australia.
"This (win) will give a lot of confidence to Sania and will help her when she takes the court for singles. Confidence is always the key and I see them winning more and more titles this year," he added.