Sports India

Sania Mirza and Pavel Vizner of Czech Republic nipped a late challenge by Fenando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues to move into the second round of the Wimbledon Grand Slam mixed doubles tennis here on Saturday.

Sania and Vizner defeated the Spanish duo 6-2 7-5 in the first round to set up a clash with Czech Republic’s Leos Friedl and Liezl Huber of South Africa.

Fourth seeds Leander Paes and Samantha Stosur, who had a bye in the first round, were level with Australian Paul Hanley and Tatiana Perebiynis of Ukraine 4-6 6-3 9-9 in the second round tie when play was suspended due to bad light.

The match will be continued on Monday.

Mahesh Bhupathi and China’s Zi Yan, seeded 11th, also had a first round bye. They will be up against Americans Bob Bryan and Venus Williams in the second round.