Australian mixed doubles pair Anastasia Rodionova and Paul Hanley bowed out in their first round clash to sixth seeds Alisa Kleybanova of Russia and Max Mirnyi of Belarus in a 6-3 3-6 (10-3) loss on a near-capacity Margaret Court Arena on Saturday.
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The Australians, who received a wildcard into the event, began their first round encounter well putting pressure on the Kleybanova serve in the third game of the opening set. They set up two break point opportunities but failed to convert when Hanley netted an easy forehand volley.
In the sixth game, Hanley struggled with his serve in the blustery conditions, serving two double faults. The Australians could not manage to hold as Kleybanova hit a forehand volley in between Rodionova and Hanley at the net to gain a 4-2 lead.
The sixth seeds went on to take out the set 6-3 in 34 minutes with a powerful serve from the big-serving Belarusian which Hanley failed to return.
Kleybanova/Mirnyi looked in control in the second as they quickly broke early and raced to a 2-0 lead. After a quiet first set, the Australians bounced back and turned the match around. They broke their sixth-seeded opponents twice to edge to a 5-3 lead en route to securing the set 6-3, with a pounding serve from Hanley forcing the match to a deciding tiebreaker.
The sixth seeds dominated the tiebreaker strolling to an 8-1 lead. The Australians could do very little to stop their overpowering opponents, who went on to clinch the tiebreaker and match 10-3.
Kleybanonva/Miryni are scheduled to play either Barbora Zahlavova Strycova/Oliver Marach or Rennae Stubbs/Travis Parrott in the next round.
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