Paes and Elena Vesnina overcame a stiff resistance from unseeded team of Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden in the first round.

Sania Mirza's semifinal finish in the women's doubles event at the recently-concluded Australian Open has catapulted her to a career-best ranking of seventh position in the latest WTA Team Rankings, issued on Monday.

Novak Djokovic dispensed with the band and the raucous dressing room celebrations. After the longest final ever in a Grand Slam, it was only fitting that he put on a solo act and then pulled the curtains on another Australian Open.

The status quo has been maintained at the top of the men's rankings after Novak Djokovic's dramatic win over Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open, unlike the situation on the women's tour.

Rafael Nadal said the Australian Open final was one of the best losses of his career after he went down fighting in a six-hour epic against Novak Djokovic.

Novak Djokovic ripped off his shirt and let out a primal scream, flexing his torso the way a prize fighter would after a desperate, last-round knockout.

A second title eluded Leander Paes at this year's Australian Open as he and Elena Vesnina ended runners-up in the mixed doubles event after being outplayed by Horia Tecau and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the summit clash at Melbourne on Sunday.

Newly crowned Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka believes women's tennis is in for a fascinating 12 months as a new generation challenges the supremacy of the established stars.

Leander Paes is in line to win two Slam titles back-to-back as he and Elena Vesnina play in the mixed doubles summit clash on Sunday, a day after Paes partnered Radek Stepanek to the men's doubles title.

Indian tennis veteran Leander Paes praised his Czech partner Radek Stepanek for playing a crucial role in realising his dream of winning the Australian Open men's doubles title on Saturday.