Agencies
Melbourne, Feb 1: Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza clinched the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open on Sunday, February 1 defeating Andy Ram of Israel and Natalie Dechy of France in the final at Melbourne.
Bhupathi and Sania won the mixed doubles final in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
The Indian duo steamrolled their opponents in a one-sided match losing just four games.
It is the first time an Indian pair has won the mixed doubles title at a Grand Slam event.
The win is 11th Grand Slam title for Bhupathi while it is the first Grand Slam title for Sania. The win is also Sania's first major win after returning from injury.
The win is India’s second title at this year’s Australian Open.
Yuki Bhambri on Saturday created history becoming the first Indian to win the Australian Open boys singles title.
Bhambri defeated Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas of Germany in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
He came into the Australian Open as the top seed and is the only Indian to win a Junior Grand Slam after Leander Paes won the Wimbledon in 1990 and the US Open in 1991.
Mahesh Bhupathi And Mark Knowles Lose Australian Open Doubles Final
Melbourne, Feb 1: Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles were thrashed out of the men's doubles final of Australian Open on Saturday (January 31). The Indo-Bahamian duo lost the title match against Bob and Mike Bryan of America by 6-2, 5-7, 0-6. Although Bhupathi- Knowles pair clinched the first, the US opponents came back strongly and swept the two sets to seal their title victory.
With this win the American identical twins have reclaimed the number one slot in doubles ranking. The defeat at men's double event does not end Mahesh Bhupathi's campaign at Australian Open as he will be playing the final of the mixed doubles event alongwith his partner Sania Mirza. Sania- Bhupathi pair will encounter France's Nathalie Dechy and Andy Ram of Israel in the final match on Sunday (February 1).
Mahesh Bhupathi has so far won four men's doubles grand slam titles and the last grand slam victory came in 2002 at US Open. While Bhupathi failed, Delhi boy Yuki Bhambri made the country proud by becoming the first Indian boy to win the junior Australian Open title. The 16-year-old defeated Alexandros-Ferdinandos Georgoudas of Germany 6-3, 6-1 in the boys final.