Indian challenge ends at Oz open after Sania, Somdev crash out

Sania-Mirza-Somdev-DevvarmaMelbourne, Jan 16 : The Indian challenge at the ongoing Australian Open has met a pre-mature end after Sania Mirza and Somdev Devvarman both bowed out of the tournament on Wednesday in their respective matches.

Poland''s world number 26 Jerzy Janowicz recaptured his self-control after a repulsive on-court outburst to beat Devvarman 6-7 3-6 6-1 6-0 7-5 in a second round thriller at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Known for his never-say-die spirit, Somdev battled for four hours at court number eight but ended up on the wrong side of the result.

Meanwhile, Mirza and her American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands also crashed out in the first round of the women''s doubles at the Australian Open tennis, losing to Spaniards Silvia Soler Espinosa and Carla Suarez Navarro
6-7 (4-7) and 3-6 on Wednesday.

The 10th-seeded Indo-US pair just could not jell, though statistically they were not very far from their Spanish opponents. It is just that they could not press home the advantage by not being able to convert more than four of their eight breakpoints whereas the Spaniards clinched all the five they got. (ANI)