Sania-Bopanna lose as Indian challenge ends at Wimbledon

Rohan Bopanna stayed solid with his service games and net play but Sania Mirza struggled with her serve as the Indian team bowed out in the third round of the Wimbledon mixed doubles on Wednesday.

The contest resumed with the 14th seed pair of Jean Julien-Roger and Andreja Klepac having a one-set lead and they finished on the right side of the result with a 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 scoreline.

Sania has not played much competitive tennis post her comeback and is struggling to get her serve right.

Serving to stay in the match at 5-6 in the decider, Sania managed to hold after a few anxious moments.

It was largely Bopanna's reflexes at the net and a solid game from the baseline apart from a superb lob from Sania that helped the Indians pull off the game.

Sania again served in a similar situation at 9-10. Roger hit a crushing forehand winner at 15-15 before Bopanna's volley sailed over the baseline.

The Dutch player, on the second match point, then executed a stunning service winner, that whizzed past from Bopanna's right side.

It was Sania's last tournament before the Tokyo Games where she will compete in the women's doubles with Ankita Raina.

With this defeat, India's challenge has ended at this year's Wimbledon.