Serena Williams, left, of the United States and her sister
Venus smile as they hold the trophy after beating Japan's
Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the
Women's doubles final at the Australian Open Tennis
Championship in Melbourne today. Photo Mark Baker/AP.
Serena and Venus Williams have won their eighth Grand
Slam women's doubles title with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Daniela
Hantuchova of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama.
The Williams sisters, seeded 10th, looked unflustered in the
Australian Open final as they served out the first set in
just 38 minutes under a closed roof on centre court.
The second set proved more difficult as the pairs exchanged
breaks six times in nine games before the Williams' powerful
returns and superior movement around the court proved the
deciding factor.
Serena Williams, who returns to centre court tomorrow for the
singles final, dominated at the net as they broke Sugiyama's
serve to take a 4-3 lead, then sealed the championship by
breaking Hantuchova.
The sisters, who won the women's doubles gold medal at last
year's Beijing Olympics, held up their rackets to celebrate
the win before hugging each other on court.
"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," Venus
Williams, 28, said. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone
else. She's amazing."
The Williams sisters now have three Australian Open doubles
titles, having previously won here in 2001 and 2003.
Serena, 27, who has a chance to win her 10th singles Grand
Slam title when she takes on Dinara Safina on Saturday,
looked relaxed during and after the match.
The sisters laughed and chatted between sets and made an
unhurried exit from Rod Laver Arena after the trophy
presentations.
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