Australian Open: Indian challenge fades as Divij Sharan, Ankita Raina take exit door
Divij Sharan with his partner Igor Zelenay of Slovakia lost in straight sets 1-6, 4-6 to the German duo of Kevin Krawietz and Yannick Hanfmann.
Unseeded Indians Purav Raja and Divij Sharan entered the second round of the men's doubles event at the Wimbledon with a hard-earned four-set victory over British-Portuguese pair of Kyle Edmund and Joao Sousa.
The Indian duo won 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (8-6) in little over three hours.
In fact, Raja-Sharan saved a set point in the tie-breaker of the fourth set before breaking the opposition's serve to wrap up the set and match at 8-6.
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This is the best performance for the duo at the SW19 as they have never been able to get past the first round hurdle in their previous attempts at the Championship.
Ranked 57th in the ATP doubles rankings, Raja and Sharan held their serve till the 12th game before upping the ante in the tie-breaker to win the set at 7-2.
After losing the second set 3-6, the Indians did well to break the opposition serve in the second game of the third set and maintained the single break lead to win the third set 6-4.
The fourth set was also closely contested before the Indians prevailed on the 14th point of the tie-breaker.
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