29 Jan 2012

Paes and Stepanek win Australian Open doubles title

9:20 am on 29 January 2012

Rookie tennis doubles partners Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek upset Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 6-2 to win the Australian Open doubles title on Saturday and foil the American twins' bid for a record 12th grand slam crown.

India's Paes and Czech Stepanek, playing in their fourth Tour event, broke the Bryans early in the second set and cruised to victory in front of a small but vocal crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

Paes beat the Bryans for the first time in a final after five straight losses, including three at Melbourne Park, and completed a career grand slam of men's doubles titles.