Paris 2024 Olympics: India’s Bopanna/Balaji pair loses to French pair Vasselin/Monfils in first round
Vasselin/Monfils beat Balaji/Sriram 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes to reach the second round where the duo will face the second-seeded German pair of Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz.
Published : Jul 29, 2024 02:43 IST , Chennai - 1 MIN READ
Paris: Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna during practice for the Men’s Doubles Tennis event. | Photo Credit: PTI
The Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji suffered a straight-set loss to the French duo of Gael Monfils and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the men’s doubles first round of Paris 2024 Olympics at Court 14 of Roland-Garros on Sunday.
Vasselin/Monfils beat Balaji/Sriram 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 16 minutes to reach the second round where the duo will face the second-seeded German pair of Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz.
The Indian duo did not have the best of beginnings in the first set. They went 2-4 down after giving up an early break. However, they roared back to reclaim the break and tie the game 5-5. Just when it appeared like the game might go to a tiebreaker, the French duo earned their second break and won the first set in 42 minutes.
ALSO READ | Sumit Nagal knocked out in first round after three-set loss to Corentin Moutet
The second set proved to be even more one-sided. Once again, Bopanna and Balaji dropped their serve early, landing themselves in trouble again. This time, they were unable to recover the lead, as Monfils and Roger-Vasselin cruised home.
Earlier, India’s lone representation in men’s singles, Sumit Nagal, suffered a three-set loss to Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the first round.
With these losses, the Indian challenge is over in tennis at the Paris Olympics.