The Indo-American combine, long-time friends, discovered who their opponents were some five minutes before they walked on court. The Serbian pair were the second alternates, they replaced Belinda Bencic and Filip Polsak as the Swiss were unwell.
Ram was champion in 2021 with Czech Barbora Krejcikova. "Sania and I had a tough one at the US Open, this is only the second time we are playing together. Nice to get a win here," he said. "Good for me to play with Sania as it's her last year. Hopefully we'll win a few more."
Ram and Sania are long-time friends, she was 12 and he was almost 15 when they first met, but the American, ranked No.4 in the world, wasn't aware of the Indian's decision to call it quits at the end of the season.
"She has got other priorities now, we are all getting to that age when you don't know how many years you have left," the 37-year-old said. "It's a bit more special to play together here given that she has decided."
Sania blamed timing when asked why the duo hadn't come together earlier.
"Just before I had Izhaan I was playing with Ivan Dodig for a couple of years, we had pretty good results. By the time I wanted to partner Rajeev he was winning Slams with other people, but it had to happen. It was meant to happen."
Sania and Ram could play third seeds Robert Farah and Nicole Melichar-Martinez next.
Australian Open: Sania, Rajeev enter mixed-doubles second round - Times of India
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