The Indo-Croat pair had earlier beat two of Mirza’s doubles partners – one former, one current – Leander Paes and Martina Hingis – at the quarterfinals of the Open, catching them in straight sets.
Advertisement
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today congratulated Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis for their “big win” at the Australian Open.
Hingis and Mirza-dubbed Team SanTina-eased past Lucie Hradecka and Andrea Hlavackova, 7-6(1), 6-3, to win their first title in Australia in their first appearance as a team.
Switzerland’s Martina Hingis (R) hits the ball as her partner India’s Sania Mirza watches during their doubles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 29, 2016.
Continuing their superb form this year, Sania and Martina extended their unbeaten run to 36 with this title triumph.
Sania has also entered the semifinal of the mixed doubles at the Australian Open this year.
Later on Friday, Mirza will link with Croatia’s Ivan Dodig in an attempt to reach the mixed doubles final in their last-four clash with Elena Vesnina and Bruno Soares. Kerber broke Konta’s serve in the 11th game, and held in the next to take the set in 49 minutes.
The formidable pairing of Sania and Hingis has now won three Grand Slams in a row.
The Scotsman had come through the first five rounds relatively unscathed but made the worst possible start to his sixth Australian semi-final, as Raonic went on the hunt for a place in his first Grand Slam final.
The Swiss was then broken while serving for the title, though they sealed it on their fourth championship point when Hradecka’s running forehand sailed over the baseline, the third time she was broken in the set. Appearing in their fifth major final, Hlavackova and Hradecka broke four times and served for the set at 5-4.
Advertisement
“Hopefully, we will be back to defend our title next year”, Hingis said. “She just keeps going and going as an fantastic champion”, added Mirza, who plays in a mixed doubles semifinal later this evening.
