We're still good friends, says Sania after splitting with Mahesh

Indian golden girl Sania Mirza yesterday insisted that she and Mahesh Bhupathi remained firm friends despite their decision to split as a mixed doubles team

The duo, who have won two Grand Slam titles (2009 Australian Open & 2010 French Open) together, have gone their separate ways at the US Open following the bitter build-up and fall-out from the Olympic Games.

Mahesh Bhupathi & Sania Mirza

“We are still good friends. We have a great relationship and we are not going to spoil that over mixed doubles. Everything is fine. We even went to the movies this week to see a couple of films,” Mirza told AFP yesterday.

Mirza’s new partnership with Britain’s Colin Fleming began on a winning note with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win over Germany’s Andrea Petkovic and Eric Butorac of the United States on Wednesday. But Mirza was adamant that there was no reason to believe that she and Bhupathi might not link up again as a team in the future. “Our commitment was only up until the Olympics and we both agreed it was best to have a break,” she added.

Bhupathi will team up with Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic in New York. Mirza played mixed doubles at the Olympics with Leander Paes but only in controversial circumstances after Paes had demanded an assurance that only he, and not Bhupathi or Rohan Bopanna, would be paired with her. Angry Mirza hit out, saying she was uncomfortable at being used as “bait” to keep Paes happy.

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