Neal Skupski and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez see fine Australian Open run end as Barbora Krejcikova and Rajeev Ram cruise into mixed doubles final
- Neal Skupski and Maria Jose Martinez exited the Australian Open on Thursday
- They were beaten by Rajeev Ram and Barbora Krejcikova in the mixed doubles
- Third seeds Ram and Krejcikova won 6-0, 6-4 in 66 minutes to reach the final
Britain’s Neal Skupski and Spanish partner Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez saw their fine run at the Australian Open end in the mixed doubles semi-finals on Thursday.
The unseeded duo were beaten in straight sets by third seeds Rajeev Ram and Barbora Krejcikova in 66 minutes.
American Ram and Czech Krejcikova won the first eight games of the match, which was briefly interrupted at 4-0 in the first set when the roof above Margaret Court Arena was closed due to extreme heat in Melbourne.
Britain’s Neal Skupski and Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez exited the Australian Open on Thursday
American Rajeev Ram and Czech star Barbora Krejcikova won their mixed doubles semi-final
Martinez Sanchez held serve to finally get herself and Liverpudlian Skupski on the board, before they reeled off another two games to move 3-2 ahead in the second set.
But Ram and Krejcikova never really looked in danger and they won four of the last five games to seal a 6-0, 6-4 victory.
As a team, Ram and Krejcikova hit 14 winners — four more than their opponents.
Skupski and Martinez Sanchez had beaten top seeds Mate Pavic and Gabriela Dabrowski a day earlier.
Third-seeded pair Ram and Krejcikova celebrated with a high-five on Margaret Court Arena
Martinez Sanchez and Skupski started awfully as they lost the opening eight games in a row