Have to recover as quickly as possible, says Sania Mirza post-defeat

Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna looked on course for a place in the final after taking the first set 6-2 in the semi-final match against the USA’s Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram. However, everything went downhill from there on, and they surrendered the second set 2-6, before losing the tie-breaker 3-10.

Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Sania Mirza said that they will have to recover as quickly as possible from the semi-final defeat to clinch a bronze medal for India in the event.

We have to try and recover as quick as possible, mentally and physically. Probably more mentally."

“We have to try and recover as quick as possible, mentally and physically. Probably more mentally. We have to go back, try and get some sleep, put some food in our body and recover for tomorrow,” Sania said after the semi-final defeat, reported PTI.

“It’s difficult to see positives 10 minutes after you lose but that’s what we have to do as we don’t get too many chances. We are fortunate enough to have a shot at the medal. There were a few points here and there where the momentum shifted but we played well,” Sania said.

The World No.1 women’s doubles player also praised Venus Williams, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, for her performance, and said that small mistakes shifted the momentum in their opponents’ favour.

“Tennis is a game of inches and cms, anything can happen but we are coming back. She did step up well, that’s why she’s a champion. She’s able to do that under pressure. She started returning a lot better as opposed to the first set.

We got the momentum back in our favour but then they went ahead in the super tie-break."

“We got the momentum back in our favour but then they went ahead in the super tie-break. It’s such a toss-up. We played great, if we look back but we have to get over it. We have a bit more time than our opponents who’re still playing on the court,” said Sania.

Rohan Bopanna also praised the performance of Venus, and said, “Once they got that break (in the fourth game of second set), Venus started serving much better. The good thing is we still have a chance to come back and get a shot at the bronze medal. We have to recover well and come back by being positive. Our opponents will also be coming from a loss.”

The Indian pair will face Radek Stepanek and Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic in the bronze-medal match today.