Australian Open: Paes-Stepanek win men's doubles title

Veteran star Leander Paes on Saturday created history by becoming the first Indian to complete a career Grand Slam after winning the Australian Open men's doubles title with Radek Stepanek.

The unseeded Indo-Czech pair played tremendously to upset the dangerous top seeds, Bob and Mike Bryan, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 in the summit clash, which lasted one hour and 24 minutes.

Paes lauded Stepanek for playing a crucial role in the pair winning the Australian Open men's doubles title.

The title is Paes' first with Stepanek, who at 33 is five years younger than the Indian.

Paes said he told Stepanek that it was special to beat the world number one pair of Mike and Bob Bryan in the final.

"I have to thank my partner Radek for putting me on his shoulders and carrying me through the week. I have played five finals against the brothers and lost three and you know how it feels," Paes said after the win.

Paes acknowledged the prowess and talent of the Bryans, who have consistently dominated doubles tennis.

"I have highest regard for you guys (Bob and Mike). Great ambassadors of the game for the manner in which you conduct yourselves," he said.

Paes has reached the Australian Open doubles final thrice before but lost on all occasions - twice to the Bryan brothers.

This title has eluded Paes since the late 90s when he along with estranged partner Mahesh Bhupathi dominated doubles tennis and reached the number one spot as a team in 1999.

In their quest to complete their slam tally, Paes and Bhupathi had joined hands in 2011 after a gap of 11 years but the title slipped out of their hands as they lost to the Bryan brothers in last year's final.

Paes and Bhupathi broke their partnership again at the start of the new season with the latter choosing to partner Rohan Bopanna on the Tour for 2012.

Paes began the season by winning the Chennai Open with Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

This is the 13th Grand Slam title for Paes, who with seven men's doubles trophies and six mixed doubles titles, is India's most successful doubles player in majors. Bhupathi has won 11 Grand Slam titles.

Paes has won the French Open thrice (1999, 2001, 2009) and Wimbledon (1999) and US Open (2006) once each.

Paes dedicated the win to some special people who have contributed in his illustrious career.

"To my daughter Aiyana and wife Rhea. Martina (Navratilova) for being such an inspiration and all the support staff," he said.

Paes now has a chance to repeat the rare success of winning both men's doubles and mixed doubles titles in the same Grand Slam tournament as he is due to play the mixed doubles final on Sunday with Russian partner Elena Vesnina.

Paes had won both titles at 1999 Wimbledon. Men's doubles with Bhupathi and mixed doubles with American Lisa Raymond.

As expected, it was a keenly fought match. The opening set went with serve with Paes and Bob saving breakpoints on their serves in the fourth and fifth games respectively.

Stepanek attacked Bob's serve in the fifth game, unleashing tremendous returns and thrilling netplay and earned a breakpoint. But the American brothers saw off the threat comfortably.

Some of Stepanek's shots were so stunning that once Paes even bowed his head to acknowlege the Czech's winner.

Eventually, the set was stretched to the tie-breaker, which the Indo-Czech pair dominated right after earning a break in the first point.

There was no stopping Paes and Stepanek after that point and they comfortably took the lead, allowing their rivals just one point in the tie-break.

The Bryans lost steam in the second set with Paes and Stepanek taking full control. The duo faced an anxious moment just once when the Brayns earned a breakpoint in the seventh game but they failed to convert.

Stepanek, who won his first Grand Slam title on Saturday, was emotional after the win.

"It's tough to add to what Leander has said. This was one title that was missing (in Paes' kitty) and I am happy that I was by your side when you won it. Also want to say 'hi' to my wife Nicole (Vaidisova, former tennis player) and I would be back soon," he said.