Mixed Doubles - Hingis and Paes

The third match on Rod Laver Arena on this second Monday was a Round Two Mixed Doubles Match featuring a team of legends - Swiss Martina Hingis and Indian Leander Paes against Australian pair - Casey Dellacqua and Matt Reid.

Hingis/Paes are the reigning Roland Garros mixed champions.  Casey was part of the winning mixed team at Roland Garros in 2011.

Of course Hingis and Paes have won multiple titles at all levels, including Grand Slam, in women's and men's doubles respectively.

Paes served first.  A missed volley by Reid.  Same miss by Hingis.  Netted return by Dellacqua.  A winning volley from Dellacqua 30-30.  Ace.  Game to the legends 1-0.

Reid serving.  30-0 with Casey putting it away at the net.  Backhand passing shot from Paes not enough to prevent levelling at 1-1.

Hingis serving.  Her partner stuffed up at the net, but an ace took them to 30-15.  Neat volley down the middle from Casey 30-30.  Then she passed Paes for a break point.  Paes redeemed himself with a winning volley and deuce.   Game to the legends 2-1.

Dellacqua serving.  Matt Reid smashed a winner.  Netted shot from Casey, then one long.  Serve broken and legends led 3-1.

Great volley winner from Martina.  Paes held serve a second time and the team was up 4-1.

Casey split the opposition in half again with a volley and Matt held serve again 2-4.

Paes copped one to the body from Dellacqua but Hingis held serve in the middle of the violence 5-2.

Forehand crosscourt winner from Leander and errors from Dellacqua led to two break points and Casey was broken for the second time, the first set to Hingis/Paes 6-2.

Down the line winner from Reid and return winner from the same racquet insufficient to stop Paes from holding and taking his team to a 1-0 lead in set two.

Good serving from Reid and sharp volleying from Dellacqua and 1-1.

Return winner from Dellacqua and excellent hands at the net from Paes highlighted the hold of serve by Hingis 2-1.  

Nice volleying by Reid and then a cool exchange between he and Paes, won by Paes.  Another winning volley by Paes had Casey at 40-30.  She held and the score was 2-2.

Paes held serve then so did Reid and Hingis.  At 3-4 it was the turn of Dellacqua once more.  Double fault - the sin of doubles.  15-15 with Hingis missing wide.  Hingis had a thousand attempts before finally finding a way past Dellacqua and at 15-40 the match was on the line.  Only one break point was required and Paes would serve for the match.

A backhand return winner from Casey took the score to 15-30 but some solo brilliance from Paes made it 30-30.  An ace brought up match point.

It was over in straight sets won by Hingis / Paes 6-2 6-3