MELBOURNE • Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza added the Australian Open title to their 2015 US Open and Wimbledon crowns yesterday, as the pair maintained their dominance of women's doubles.
The Swiss veteran, 35, and her Indian partner, 29, were pushed hard by Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, but came through the battle 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena.
It stretched the top seeds' winning streak to 36 matches, the third-best in WTA history and the longest unbeaten run since Jana Novotna and Helen Sukova reached 44 in 1990.
The longest win streak ever belongs to Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, who won 109 straight matches from 1983 to 1985.
"Thanks Sania, without you I wouldn't be here today," said Hingis. "We've struggled through heat and rain this year and it's been a tough tournament."
Mirza added: "We've had an incredible year and we just want to keep going."
Hingis and Mirza have been hugely successful since teaming up last March at Indian Wells, and went on to reach 10 finals last season.
They opened their 2016 campaign by winning titles in Brisbane and Sydney, and now Melbourne.
It was the 12th career Grand Slam doubles title for Hingis. She has now won five Australian Opens (1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2016), two French Opens (1998, 2000), three at Wimbledon (1996, 1998, 2015) and two US Opens (1998, 2015).
Mirza, married to former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik, has won three, all with Hingis.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
