Black, Paes win US Open mixed doubles

Black, Paes win US Open mixed doubles

EASY DOES IT: Black and Paes celebrate after winning the US Open mixed doubles final on Thursday, September 4, 2008

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By Simon Cambers
Posted to the web: 04/09/2008 23:16:56
ZIMBABWE’S Cara Black and India’s Leander Paes won the mixed doubles title at the U.S. Open on Thursday, beating Briton Jamie Murray and American Liezel Huber 7-6 6-4.

The fifth seeds saved two set points in the first-set tiebreak before breaking once in the second to clinch victory in what was their first grand slam event together.

Black hit a crucial volley to save the first set point and Murray, who won the mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2007 with Jelena Jankovic, netted a volley on the second.

"It was amazing to pull that set out," Black said. "It gave us a great lift."
Murray was the only man to lose his serve, in the fifth game of the second, and Paes served out for his eighth grand-slam title, while Black has now won seven, including three mixed.

"The trick in doubles is to find a good partner," Paes said in a courtside interview. "I let Cara do all the work and just sat back and enjoyed it.”

Huber and Murray had beaten the second seeds, Serbian Nenad Zimonjic and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, in the quarter-finals but found Paes and Black too strong.

"It wasn't a tough loss, they were just the better team," Huber said. "They have so much experience and have won so many titles, so it was an honour to play them."

Black and Huber will join up in the final of the women's doubles when they play American Lisa Raymond and Australian Sam Stosur, the 10th seeds. Black and Huber are a formidable doubles team are both ranked number one in the world.

"It was tough for me to play against Liezel, but Leander was so good with me," Black said.

"He calmed me a lot and said he had my back at all times. All thanks to Leander. He pulled me through."

Black and Paes will share the US$150,000 prize. - Reuters/AFP
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