AFP, Melbourne :
Martina Hingis won her first Grand Slam title since 2006 on Sunday by clinching the Australian Open mixed doubles crown with fellow veteran Leander Paes of India.
The old stagers, seeded seven, drew on their considerable experience to beat the third seeds, France’s Kristina Mladenovic and Canadian Daniel Nester, 6-4, 6-3.
Hingis’ win comes 20 years after making her Melbourne debut as a 14-year-old and less than a year after coming out of retirement.
“Not even in my wildest dreams would I have believed that 20 years later I’d be standing here again,” the Swiss star said.
Hingis, the holder of five Grand Slam singles titles, now has 11 major doubles crowns — nine women’s and two mixed.
Her last major success was in the mixed doubles at Melbourne Park with another Indian, Mahesh Bhupathi, in 2006.
