Paes, Black win Australian Open mixed doubles title

Melbourne, Jan 31(ANI): Top-seeded pair Leander Paes and Cara Black won the Australian Open mixed doubles title on Sunday, beating Russian Ekaterina Makarova and Jaroslav Levinsky in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.

Paes led the pair with a dominant presence at the net and quick footwork to win the match in one hour, eight minutes. This is his 11th Grand Slam title, and he has equaled Indian compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi.

It is the second Grand Slam mixed doubles title for Paes along with Black. They had previously teamed up to win the 2008 U.S. Open.

The 36-year-old Indian ace now has six Grand Slam doubles titles and five Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, including the 2003 Australian Open playing with Martina Navratilova, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Black had earlier made it to the Australian Open women's doubles final with Liezel Huber, where defending champions Venus and Serena Williams thrashed them 6-4 6-3. (ANI)