On a day when the top Indian tennis stars had a much-needed breather, 18-year-old Karman Kaur Thandi was the only one flying the Indian Tricolour high at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. The youngster showed exceptional fighting spirit in partnership with Canada’s 17-year-old Charlotte Robillard-Millette during their marathon 6(6)-7, 6-4, 6-4 first round victory over Great Britain’s Georgina Axon and Lauryn John-Baptiste in girls’ doubles.
Between the two pairs, it was the British combine who played the more attacking game and had 10 winners – 5 more than the Indo-Canadian duo. But it was their ability to capitalize on the big points that awarded Thandi and Robillard-Millette the win.
They converted a total of six out of nine break point chances in this opening round contest that lasted 2 hours 16 minutes.
Thandi and Robillard-Millette have a tough task up next as they face the top seeds Olesya Pervushina and Anastasia Potapova for a place in the quarter-finals.
Thandi, who had a training stint at the eminent Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in France two months back, bowed out of the girls’ singles after a tough second round loss to Mariam Bolkvadze of Georgia.
On Thursday, while Karman will be chasing a quarter-final berth in girls’ doubles, India’s elite stars too will be back in action. While Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis will be playing their quarter-final match in women’s doubles, Leander Paes will be continuing his quest for a second Mixed Doubles title at SW19 alongside Hingis.
