Czech pair too good for Sania-Vesnina in final

Sania Mirza failed to add another Grand Slam title to her collection, as she and Elena Vesnina were beaten in the final of the women's doubles at the French Open on Friday.

The Indian ace and her Russian partner, seeded seventh, were beaten 4-6, 3-6 by the unseeded Czech duo of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in the final.

This was Sania's third Grand Slam final appearance, the first two being in the mixed doubles at the Australian Open. She and compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi won the Australian Open mixed doubles in 2009, while they were losing finalists in the same Grand Slam tournament in 2008.

The Indo-Russian pair failed to display the form that took them past the fourth seeded American duo of Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond in the semi-finals. They started on the backfoot and were always left to do the catching up game.

Hlavackova-Hradecka broke Sania's serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead, while Vesnina's serve was then broken in the fifth game, as the Czech duo raced to 5-1 after holding easily in the sixth.

The Indo-Russian pair looked like caving in without a fight as they faced three break–points in the seventh game, but fought back and held after deuce was called twice to stay in the set.

That strong recovery lifted Sania-Vesnina and they broke Hlavackova in the next game before Vesnina held to make it 4-5.

The tenth game was a keen affair, but Hradecka held serve after deuce was called twice to take the first set 6-4 in 42 minutes.

The Czech pair got off to a rousing start in the second set, breaking Vesnina's serve in the opening game. Hradecka then held to put the them 2-0 up.

The Indo-Russian pair pulled a game back as Sania held serve in third. With good understanding between themselves Sania-Vesnina then handed the Czechs a love game, breaking Hlavackova in the fourth, to make it two games apiece.

But Vesnina was unable to hold in the next and Hradecka held to put the Czechs 4-2 up.

A good service game by Sania helped the Indo-Czech pair make it 3-4, but Hlavackova held in the eighth.

Serving to stay in the contest, Vesnina was unable to hold, handing the Czechs the set and match at 6-3.

Since teaming in February, Sania and Vesnina won two titles -- at Indian Wells in March and Charleston in April.

Sania had won the singles silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and a singles bronze at the Asian Games.