Pics courtesy: AP
Martina Hingis Official Facebook
WHAT HAPPENED: Leander Paes has now won more Grand Slam mixed doubles titles (9) than any other man in the Open era with his victory in Friday's championship match. Teaming with Martina Hingis, the No. 4 seeds defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sam Querrey, 6-4, 3-6, [10-7].
Hingis and Paes broke Mattek-Sands at love to take a 2-1 lead in the opening set, with Hingis rifling a forehand passing shot to secure the break. That bit of momentum was all they needed, as Paes easily closed the set out at 5-4 when Hingis hit a volley winner.
A lone break of serve also decided the second set, as Mattek-Sands hit two straight winners to break Hingis' serve and give her team a 3-1 lead. Hingis saved three set points on her serve at 2-5, but Querrey easily held in the next game to send the contest into a deciding super tiebreak.
It appeared that the unseeded Americans would prevail when they won both points on Hingis' serve to grab the first mini-break and a 4-1 lead, But Hingis and Paes took the minibreak back on Mattek-Sands' serve at the next opportunity. The crucial point of the match came at 7-7, when Paes blocked Querrey's serve for a clean passing-shot winner. He then won both points on his serve to close out the match, hitting an overhead winner on their first match point and then lifting Hingis in celebration.
WHAT IT MEANS: The win gives Hingis her first title at the US Open since 1998 and her first mixed doubles title here. It also marks Paes' second mixed doubles title at the US Open, having last won in 2008 with Cara Black, and the ninth mixed doubles title of his career.
Paes surpassed fellow Indian Mahesh Bhupathi to now hold more Grand Slam mixed doubles title than any other man in the Open era. Only Martina Navratilova holds more titles with 10.
Paes and Hingis also became the first mixed doubles team since 1969 to win three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in the same year, having won at the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year.
THE QUESTION: How many more mixed doubles titles do you think Hingis and Paes have in them?
usopen.org
That 10 point championship tie-break was superb, they were down 4-1 and came back and won it.
Very reminiscent of the Wimbledon final where Sania and Martina came back from 5-2 down to win it.
Congratulations on a fantastic tournament you two, way to end the Grand Slam season!.
Bring on the ladies doubles on Sunday! :).
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