Paris: On Friday, Leander Paes-Martina Hingis captured the 2016 French
Open Mixed Doubles title to complete a ‘Career Slam’ in mixed doubles.
The Paes-Hingis pair beat Sania
Mirza and Ivan Dodig after the match went to a championship tie-break at
the Philippe-Chatrier court.
Mirza and Dodig won the first set
6-4, while the Paes-Hingis made made a comeback in the second, winning it by an
identical score.
In the end the experienced
Indo-Swiss pair were too good, winning the tie-break 10-8.
It was 18th Grand Slam title for
Paes and tenth in the mixed doubles. For 35-year-old Hingis, it was Grand Slam
title number 22nd and fifth trophy in the mixed doubles. Playing with lot
passion, he put away volleys from ferocious returns of both Sania and Dodig and
has staked claim to be in India's mixed doubles team at the upcoming Rio
Olympics.
Despite being the oldest player
on the court, Paes’ alertness and presence of mind made a good difference to
the outcome of the match. Whenever he saw little openings and converted those
into points.
The winners split 116000 Euros as
prize money while Sania and Dodig got 58000 Euros as a team.
Paes also tied Martina Navratilova’s record for the most Grand Slam
mixed doubles titles (10) in the Open Era.
In Mixed Doubles, Paes has won
four Wimbledon Open titles, three Australian Open titles, two US Open titles
and with Friday’s win, his first French Open title, thus completing his ‘Career
Slam’. Moreover, he has eight Men’s Doubles title, where he completed his
‘Career Slam’ in 2012.
For Hingis, in Mixed Doubles, she
has two Australian Open titles, one US Open title, one Wimbledon Open title and
with Friday’s win, her first French Open title. Besides, she has 12 Women’s
Doubles titles, where she completed her ‘Career Slam’ in 1998.
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