Australian Open 2018, Day 7: Rohan Bopanna-Tímea Babos vs Ellen Perez-Andrew Whittington, Live Match Updates

That was a great show from the only Indian in the mixed doubles draw of the 2018 Australian Open.

And that wraps up our live coverage of Day 7 of the 2018 Australian Open. Thanks for staying with us.

Do join us tomorrow for the live updates from Day 8 of the season's opening Major.

Goodbye!

What a statement that was from the fifth seeds! They look absolutely formidable in their first time pairing.

Needless to say, that performance will stand them in good stead as they seek their first Slam title together.

Final score: Bopanna & Babos def Whittington & Perez 6-2, 6-4 to enter R2

WIN

It's a buttery smooth service game from the fifth seeds to hold and win the match!

Perez and Whittington push aside that setback and hold to love.

They trail 4-5

Excellent play from the fifth seeds as they force errors out of the Australians and hold their serve with a smashing forehand.

5-3

Some big forehands from the Australians and they now have 2 break points!

No service break after that.

The fifth seeds maintain their one-break advantage and inch ahead to 4-3

What an effortless way to consolidate!

A love hold and it's a 3-1 hold for Bopanna and Babos.

BREAK

And Perez and Whittington's resistance didn't last long.

Bopanna and Babos penetrate into their serve and earn the vital break!

2-1

There's no stopping the Bopanna-Babos juggernaut.

They continue to progress smoothly.

With a love hold, they make it 1-1

Much better start to the second set from the Australian pair.

They hold to 15

1-0

And Babos and Bopanna have done it!
The first set is in their pocket!

6-2

Babos and Bopanna will now try to serve out the first set after their Australian opponents held and made it 2-5

It's a walk in the Melbourne Park for Babos and Bopanna.

Another hold to 15 for a 5-1 lead.

Destructive mode!

The pair is already looking threat in their first outing. Can Bopanna add another Slam title to the French Open mixed doubles trophy he won last year?

BREAK

The fifth seeds come up with ruthless returns. With a sizzling backhand winner, they break again and surge to 4-1

Absolute domination from the Indo-Hungarian pair. They have a pretty comfortable service game and now lead 3-1

The Australian pair was under pressure on serve as Bopanna and Babos forced a deuce.

But they managed to survive that onslaught.

They hold and trail 1-2

It's a very bright start for Bopanna and Babos.

They break and lead 2-0

We are under way!

Rohan Bopanna will partner Hungarian Tímea Babos for the first time in the mixed doubles of the Australian Open. The pair will take on Australian duo of Ellen Perez and Andrew Whittington in the first round match, on Sunday.

The 37-year-old veteran player had decided to split with former partner Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski with whom he had some success. In fact, it was with Dabrowski that Bopanna won his maiden Grand Slam, last year’s French Open. So, the news came as a surprise.

Babos, herself, is an accomplished doubles player. At 24, she has already made three major final appearances (all at Wimbledon). However, it remains to be seen how she plays alongside Bopanna.

Coming to the match, the Indo-Hungarian duo is favoured to win against the Perez and Whittington, who are bound to get a massive local support. Still, Bopanna and Babos should have no problem in seeing them out.