Australian Open: Sania Mirza-Strycova crash out, Leander Paes-Hingis advance

It was a mixed day for India at the Australian Open on Sunday. Leander Paes and partner Martina Hingis progressed into the second round of the mixed doubles event while Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova crashed out in the third round of the women’s doubles competition.

Sania Mirza, the world No 2 in women’s doubles, and her Czech partner Barbora Strycova suffered a shocking third round exit from the Australian Open in Melbourne after losing 3-6, 6-2, 2-6 to the Japanese pair Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato on Sunday. Earlier, Leander Paes, who suffered an early exit from the doubles category, kept his mixed doubles hopes alive after dishing out a clinical performance with Swiss queen Martina Hingis.

Leander Paes and Martina Hingis of Switzerland beat Australian pair of Marc Polmans and Destanee Aiava 6-4, 6-3 to enter the mixed doubles round of 16 at the Australian Open. Meanwhile, Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova crashed out in the third round of the women’s doubles event on Sunday. (Getty Images)

Paes and Hingis beat Australian pair of Marc Polmans and Destanee Aiava 6-4, 6-3.

This is the second consecutive time Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova’s Japanese opponents stretched the match to three sets in this edition of the Australian Open.

Sania and Strycova lost the first set, but managed to bounce back in the second with some dominating performance. They however lost steam in the deciding set which the Japanese partners thoroughly dominated.

All is not lost for Sania as yet Down Under. Sania and her mixed doubles Croatian partner Ivan Dodig have reached the second round with some strong performance in the opening clash.

Earlier, Leander Paes, and Martina Hingis beat Marc Polmans and Destanee Aiava in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, dominating the Australians.

The Indio-Swiss pair will next take on Australia’s Casey Dellacqua and Matt Reid in the Round of 16 match at the Australian Open.