THE surprise success enjoyed by India’s Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna in the last Hopman Cup has made them the fourth team confirmed for this year’s eight-team tournament in Perth.
Mirza and Bopanna qualified for the annual mixed teams tennis tournament last year by winning the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup, then went on to topple both Croatia and the Czech Republic before a loss to Spain prevented them reaching the final.
Tournament director Paul McNamee said today he was inviting the Indians directly into the field for the 20th Hopman Cup starting on December 29, joining Serbia, the Czech Republic and France.
“It’s just reward for their challenge last year and for Sania’s considerable progress this year,” said McNamee.
“Sania Mirza is a bona fide superstar in India and at only 19 years of age is on target to reach her goal of being the first Indian woman in the top 20.”
A strong US summer campaign which included wins over Tatiana Golovin, Martina Hingis, Dinara Safina, Shahar Peer and Patty Schneider has Mirza sitting at No.27 in the world rankings.
Bopanna has had a successful year on the Challenger circuit winning a singles tournament in Dublin and five doubles titles to give him an ATP doubles ranking of 86.
Bopanna’s doubles prowess helped ensure he and Mirza were unbeaten in doubles at the last Hopman Cup.
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Comment by d.gowri — June 29, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
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Comment by sunil — October 4, 2008 @ 11:41 am