Doubles tie holds key; Sania, Bopanna plot another upset

Perth, Jan 2 (UNI) Sania Mirza will have to shoulder the burden of expectations again and the doubles tie is likely to be decisive as India takes on Croatia in their second Group B tie hoping to pull off another surprise in the Hopman Cup mixed teams championship here tomorrow.

Sania should have no problem in getting the better of Sanja Ancic, with more than 100 rungs separating the two in the WTA Singles Rankings but her teammate Rohan Bopanna would require a miracle of sort to tame world number nine and Sanja's elder brother Mario Ancic.

And with both the singles matches expected to be devoid of any surprise, whoever wins the doubles match is likely to seal the issue and Sania would have to lead from the front again to keep the Indians in hunt.

In the opener against Czech republic, Sania thrashed Lucie Safarova 6-2, 6-2 in just 55 minutes but Bopanna's defeat against Tomas Berdych by the same margin meant India was back to square one.

Sania then partnered Bopanna and the duo upstaged their rivals 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (10/5) in a gruelling three-setter in the one million dollar event.

Sania and Bopanna, had played mixed doubles together in three matches at the Asian edition of the tournament.

India meet second seed Spain, represented by Anabel Medina Garrigues and Tommy Robredo, in their last Group B tie on Thursday and winner of the group would take on Group A topper in the final on Friday.

UNI