Unforced errors and poor serves cost Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi dearly as the Indian duo squandered numerous chances before surrendering the Australian Open mixed doubles title to fifth seeds Tiantian Sun and Nenad Zimonjic here today.
The unseeded Indian pair went down 6-7 (4), 4-6 to the Chinese-Serbian pair in the contest.
Sania and Bhupathi only had themselves to blame for the loss as they were a break up at 4-3 in the first set before they allowed the fifth seeds to claw their way back into the match.
The Indians were especially weak on their second serve and a couple of double faults only compounded their woes.
To their credit, Sania and Bhupathi saved seven break points, including three match points. But it was all but over by that time as Sun and Zimonjic, serving for the match, romped home with ease.