Overall, Sania now has 6 Grand Slam titles including three mixed doubles crowns.
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Hlavackova and Hradecka again broke Martina’s serve to take a 4-3 lead but Sania and Martina fought back again to break Hlavackova’s serve to bring it level at 4-4 in the first set.
She clinched the match in 1 hour, 22 minutes on her serve when Konta’s backhand went long – her 22nd unforced error of the set.
Raonic won the first set 6-4, Murray the second 7-5 and the Canadian won the third set 7-6 (4). After that we only lost two more matches.
For the 35-year-old Hingis, it was her fifth Australian Open women’s double title; her first came all the way back in 1997. “I think it’s helping women’s doubles, and it’s helping us as a team to get better and keep improving and working on our game”.
If Hingis and Mirza subsequently win the French Open doubles title in June, they would complete the “Santina Slam” or winning four consecutive grand slams.
Having knocked out No. 2 seeds Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching in the last eight, Hlavackova and Hradecka were not about to miss the opportunity to return to the game’s biggest stage, eventually seeing off Xu and Zheng, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
Indians have also chosen wisely when it comes to doubles partners.
In what was a sea-saw encounter, Mirza-Hingis held their nerves to win the first set 7-6.
Murray and Soares will play the winners of a later semifinal Thursday between Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek and Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers in Saturday’s final.
The roof was closed over Rod Laver Arena early Friday afternoon with rain showers in the area, but those were expected to clear in time to have an open stadium for the night match. “That’s something I’ve learned over the years of playing”.
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Serena Williams will take on Angelique Kerber in the women’s singles final today. “I would like to thank all the players I have played with, all the managers and staff I have worked with, and say a big “thank you” to the fans for their support over the years”.
