Leander Paes completes long-awaited career Grand Slam in doubles

Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 over defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan. (AFP Photo)

BANGALORE: Leander Paes, the 38-year-old livewire, lit Melbourne Park with his sparkling play on Saturday night, to clinch his first men's doubles title at the Australian Open and in the process completed a long-awaited career Grand Slam in the doubles.

In the title round, Paes, partnering Czech strongman Radek Stepanek, stopped the top-seeded defending champions Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States, who were on a 23-match winning streak in Melbourne. Paes and Stepanek won 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 win in 84-minutes. The champions, playing just their fourth tournament together, took home $454,500, while the Bryans, five-time champions here, settled for $227,250.

Paes, who thanked his partner for, "putting me on your shoulder and carrying me through this week", added, "I've lost three Grand Slam finals to the brothers and you can imagine how I felt coming out today to play them. Two weeks ago in Sydney, they gave us a hiding. I have the greatest respect for Mike and Bob, who are one of the finest ambassadors of the game."

Paes, who clinched his seventh Grand Slam men's doubles title on Saturday, applauded the Czech-born American legend Martina Navratilova, who was at courtside cheering the Indian. He called Navratilova an inspiration. "I've learned so much from you in life," he said.

The Paes-Stepanek friendship, which was on display through the final, was further underlined when the 33-year-old Czech, a former top-10 singles player, presently ranked 92 in doubles, said, "I know what this title means to Leander. He has won all the other Grand Slams, this one was the one missing from his trophy cabinet, I am glad I was able to help him win today."

If Paes, having finished runners-up in Melbourne on three occasions, including last year, when he and Mahesh Bhupathi fell to the Bryans in the final, was the difference between the four men on the court, Stepanek, seeking his first Grand Slam title, held his end up wonderfully, especially at the net. From the baseline, the Czech, ranked 31 in singles, was relentless.

Seventh Heaven

Following is the list of Leander Paes' Grand Slam men's doubles triumphs:

1999 French Open (with Mahesh Bhupathi): bt Goran Ivanisevic (Cro) & Jeff Tarango (US) 6-2, 7-5

1999 Wimbledon (with Bhupathi): bt PauHaarhuis (Hol) & Jared Palmer (US) 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6

2001 French Open (with Bhupathi): bt Petr Pala & PaveVizner (Cze) 7-6, 6-3

2006 US Open (with Martin Damm): bt Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) & Max Mirnyi (Blr) 6-7, 6-4, 6-3

2009 French Open (with Lukas Dlouhy): bt Wesley Moodie (RSA) & Dick Norman (Bel) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

2009 US Open (with Dlouhy): bt Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) & Mark Knowles (Bah) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

2012 Australian Open (with Radek Stepanek): bt Bob & Mike Bryan 7-6, 6-2

Mixed Doubles titles : 6 (3 Wimbledon, 2 Australian Open, 1 US Open)