Sania Mirza, Martina Hingis lose Rome Masters Final

Rome, May 17 (IANS): Indo-Swiss tennis combine of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis did not live up to expectations as the top seeds were upset by Hungarian-French pair of Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets in the women’s doubles final of the $2,428,490 Rome Masters here on Sunday.

The third seeds took just an hour and 13 minutes to come out on top with a 6-4, 6-3 win on the outdoor clay courts of Foro Italico in the first ever match between the two pairs. This was Sania and Martina’s, ranked World No.1 and 2 respectively, fourth final together, having won at Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston earlier in the year.

The match did not go in favour of the top seeds right from the start as Sania and Martina were shocked in the fifth game of the first set when Timea and Kristina broke them and held serve to extend the lead to 4-2.

Sania and Martina finally earned two breakpoints for the first time in the match when the the third seeds were looking to close the set on their service game at 5-4. However, both opportunities were wasted as Timea and Kristina won the set to take the lead in the match in only 38 minutes.

The third seeds took the momentum into the second set as they immediately broke their opponents. But Sania and Martina reverted by breaking back and levelling the set at 1-1.

The next four service games were held by both teams but the third seeds once again stunned the Indo-Swiss combo by breaking them in the seventh game of the set. They held serve to extend the lead to 5-3.

Within no time, Timea and Kritina had two matchpoints. The first was saved by the top seeds but the Hungarian-French pair converted the second to earn the vital crown.