Australian Open: Ram/Dechy come up short in mixed doubles final

The Israeli/French duo led 3-2 in the first set before losing 10 of the next 11 games and crashing to the defeat after just 55 minutes.

By ALLON SINAI
Ram Dechy 248.88 (photo credit: AP)
Ram Dechy 248.88
(photo credit: AP)
Andy Ram failed in his attempt to win a third career Grand Slam mixed doubles title on Sunday, losing with partner Nathlie Dechy 6-3, 6-1 to the Indian pairing of Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi. The Israeli/French duo led 3-2 in the first set before losing 10 of the next 11 games and crashing to the defeat after just 55 minutes. Despite the disappointing loss, Ram was still his usual cheerful self after the match. "We wanted to make them work harder and hoped the match would last longer, but we failed to do so and it's a shame we didn't win another Grand Slam," said a smiling Ram, who won in Wimbledon in 2006 with Russian Vera Zvonareva and at Roland Garros with Dechy two years ago. "I can't believe the match ended so quickly. They played much better than us throughout the match and the final result tells the story." Sunday's victory gave Mirza her first Grand Slam title and took Bhupathi's tally to 11, seven of them in mixed doubles. Bhupathi and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas lost the men's doubles final Saturday to American twins Bob and Mike Bryan. "My coach, trainer and obviously Sania were trying to keep me as positive as possible," said Bhupathi. "But going home without a title after making two finals just crossed my mind a few too many times today in the match. It didn't happen, so I'm happy at that." Mirza, who wasn't bothered by a recent wrist problem during the tournament, also felt pretty good. "It's always a dream to win a Grand Slam, that's what we all play for I think when we're younger," she said. "It makes it more special because it's with someone that I've known for so long and so well."