Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza out in first round doubles at Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza’s perfect record together took a hit as they lost their opening match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Who beat them?

Published April 22, 2015 12:15


STUTTGART, Germany – A long six weeks finally took its toll on Wednesday night as Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza – who had taken the doubles world by storm with back-to-back-to-back title runs at Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston – finally lost a match at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

After a travel-heavy last few days because of Fed Cup – Hingis headed to Poland, Mirza all the way back to India – the Swiss-Indian duo could be forgiven for not being their freshest. And Hingis – who even played two singles matches over the weekend – was treated for a back injury during this match.


After losing three straight games from 3-all to drop the first set, the No.1-seeded Hingis and Mirza showed some encouraging signs as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second set, even holding a point for 3-0. But the first-time pairing of Petra Martic and Stephanie Vogt held that game and broke them right back to even the set at 2-all, and they went on to pull of a straight set stunner, 6-3, 6-3.

Hingis and Mirza’s triumphs in Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston not only saw them shoot up to No.1 on the Road To Singapore doubles leaderboard, the year-long journey to the doubles event at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, it also propelled Mirza to No.1 on the WTA Doubles Rankings, the first Indian woman in tennis history to rise to No.1, in singles or in doubles.

Given the two teams’ credentials, it was a David and Goliath-like victory. Hingis and Mirza went into the match 14-0 together and with 70 WTA doubles titles between them – 44 for Hingis, 26 for Mirza.

Martic and Vogt were playing together for the first time and had one WTA doubles title between them.

livetennisguide.com

I really hope they take the next couple of weeks off, and skip at least one of the clay court tournaments.  I think they both need it.  

Especially poor Martina who no doubt only aggravated her injury (although everyone seems confused on what that is) the leg or the back?.  

Given all that I really wouldn't call this a shock defeat.  Hope they both get some well deserved rest.