In what is proving to be a disastrous campaign for the tennis players , hot favourites Paes and Bhupathi have crashed out of the commonwealth games doubles event denting India’s hopes of securing a gold in the event . With Paes and Sania Mirza already out of the mixed doubles , the lone gold medal contenders are Somdev Dev Varman and Sania Mirza in the singles competition keeping the tricolor still waving at the tennis courts .
Paes and Mirza’s exit from the mixed doubles tournament on Thursday was just the beginning of the huge slump in the fortunes of the tennis contingent . Yesterday was however a big day as 4 semifinals were lined up back to back featuring Indian players . And Somdev Dev Varman flagged it off brilliantly with a brutal and demolishing win over Matt Ebden 6-3 ,6-1 . Sania Mirza , the darling of the crowd got off to a disappointing start losing the first set 1-6 but her fiery forehands finally did all the talking as she brushed past the Australian Olivia Rogowska by 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 .
It was then the time for the men’s doubles matches as the Indian contingent hoped to win both their matches to ensure a 1-2 in the finals . But their hopes could not have been more crushed as English pair Ross Hutchins and Ken Skupski got the better of Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Then it was the turn of the invincible team of LEE-HESH to suffer the same fate and bow down to Australia’s Paul Hanley and Peter Luczak who easily won the match 6-2, 6-2. At least this ensured that India is guaranteed a bronze in this event .
It is now left to the singles duo of Somdev and Sania to justify the fan’s hopes of dominating the tennis event even if they have not been convincing so far .
