Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi - Can't the winning combo pair up for one last time?
Sania and Bhupathi – Australian Open 2009 Mixed Doubles champions
February 1, 2009 is still vividly entrenched in my mind. I was eagerly waiting on that Sunday morning for the clock to strike 9.30. It was actually a repeat of the emotions that had overwhelmed me exactly 1 year ago when Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi reached their 1st Grand Slam final together in Australian Open 2008. They had fought valiantly but went down in a tight two-setter 6-7 4-6 to Nenad Zimonjic/Tiantian Sun. Sania was injured and the pain was evident on her face then. This time though, nothing could go wrong. Sania/Mahesh arrived in Arthur Ashe stadium amidst wild cheers of their fans. The match ended in no time, 6-3 6-1 – a perfect demolition of their opponents, Nathalie Dechy/Andy Ram. History was created and India was proud of them. It was as if they were destined to win this time. All their matches were on show courts and covered live on TV. That they entered the tournament as a wild card pair after Sania was sidelined for most part of 2008 due to her wrist injury, made it all the more admirable. Each of their matches followed the same pattern – Sania coming up with big ground strokes and Mahesh covering the net like a “bullet”.
I still remember the bewildered faces of Lukas Dlouhy and Iveta Benesova in the semifinal as Sania kept punishing the male server with her huge forehands and Bhupathi went for one ace after another to come back from 0-3 down in the 1st set and win the match 6-4 6-1. In the summit clash, hardly had the commentator remarked that players find it difficult to win points from the baseline in doubles when Sania came up with a blistering passing shot. The commentator had to take her words back and say – “Maybe not, if you are Sania Mirza!” In short, this lethal combo of youth and experience, firepower and precision, had much to offer.
Runners-up at Australian Open 2008
Alas, our tennis organization, AITA did not think so and thus one of the best mixed doubles pairs in the world was never selected for the Asian Games or the Commonwealth Games. 3 years later, they won their 2nd Slam at Roland Garros 2012 without losing a set in the entire tournament. However, this celebration proved to be short-lived, thanks to the Olympic selection fiasco. The biggest casualty of the controversy was this mixed doubles pair, once again denied the chance to represent the country. But the matter did not end there. Sania and Mahesh decided to part ways after a shocking 2nd round exit at Wimbledon 2012. Apparently, their decade old friendship had taken a beating.
Things seemed to be getting back to normal in 2013 but there is no sign of the two teaming up again. In Australian Open 2013, both Sania and Mahesh reached the mixed doubles quarter-final with different partners. But when playing with each other, they have at least made it to the semifinal in all the 3 appearances at Melbourne. Incidentally, Sania is the only partner with whom Mahesh has won 2 mixed doubles titles. That we may never get to see this tremendous combination again, is a painful thought which is best avoided. But now with Bhupathi scheduled to retire at the end of 2013 and the French Open less than a month away, there is a sense of urgency among tennis fans. We desperately want to see Mirza/Bhupathi back on court defending their mixed doubles crown at Roland Garros. Can’t they pair up for one last time, for one last shot at glory?
Title glory at Roland Garros 2012
Mirza/Bhupathi’s achievements over the years:
Gold medallists at Afro-Asian Games 2003
Runners-up at Australian Open 2008.
Champions at Australian Open 2009.
Champions at French Open 2012.