India’s Australian Open Campaign ends on a high - Yuki wins boy’s singles, Sania-Bhupathi win mixed doubles

Sania Mirza became the first Indian woman and the third Indian to win a grand slam when she won the mixed doubles at the Australian Open partnering Mahesh Bhupathi. They won the finals comprehensively beating the French-Israeli pairing of Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram 6-3 6-1 in a one rather one sided match.

After the match, in typical Indian fashion, Bhupathi apologized to the opponents for “being too hot” for them and I hope he didn’t mean it, because January has been a great month for India Tennis.

India has made its presence felt deep in 2nd week of the Australian Open. Yuki Bhambhri, lived up to his top seeded billing winning the boy’s singles title beating the German Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas 6-3 6-1 in the finals. The only set he lost was in the first round. To add to this success he reached the semifinals of the boy’s doubles competition.

Mahesh and Lander both had great good results in the men’s-doubles with Leander making it to the semis and Mahesh to the finals.

To add the success at the Australian Open, Somdev’s performance at the Chennai Open give us hope for 2009 and beyond.