Paes-Sania motor into mixed doubles quarters

India's biggest medal hopes, and now the only hopes, in tennis - Sania Mirza and Leander Paes - made an encouraging start as they motored past Nenad Zimonjic and Ana Ivanovic in the mixed doubles opener on Thursday.

India's biggest medal hopes, and now the only hopes, in tennis - Sania Mirza and Leander Paes - made an encouraging start as they motored past Nenad Zimonjic and Ana Ivanovic in the mixed doubles opener on Thursday.

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The Indian duo took only an hour and four minutes to pack off the Serbs 6-2 6-4.

Fired up after a close defeat to French pair of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra in the men's doubles second round on Wednesday night, Paes took command at the net and let those quick hands script all the moves.

Paes-Sania survived some big serving from their opponents, who sent down seven aces, even as they created nine break point opportunities. They converted four of those to cruise to victory.

The Indian duo though face a tough ask in the second round, as they are scheduled to take on top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.