Sania advances in women, mixed events

A great day for India, Sania Mirza advanced to the third round of both the women’s and mixed doubles events, while Rohan Bopanna and Purav Raja also won their respective mixed doubles matches at the Wimbledon.

Mirza and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig, who are seeded fourth, needed an hour and 18 minutes to see off the Japanese duo of Yusuke Watanuki and Makoto Ninomiya 7-6 (5), 6-2 to enter the mixed doubles third round.

The Indo-Croatian duo finished its second round match with six aces and four double faults.

They next face the defending champions Henri Kontinen and Heather Watson for a spot in the quarterfinals.

In the women’s doubles event, Sania and her Belgian partner Kirsten Flipkens beat the British pair of Naomi Broady and Heather Watson in a hard-fought encounter to enter the third round.

Mirza and Flipkens scripted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory in one hour and 45 minutes.