Australian Open: Sania, Martina make it three Slam titles in a row

Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis of Switzerland celebrate their 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 win over Czech Republic’s Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in the Australian Open women’s doubles final in Melbourne on Friday. — AP

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza added the Australian Open title on Friday to their 2015 US Open and Wimbledon crowns as the rampantly successful pair maintained their dominance of women’s doubles.

The Swiss veteran, 35, and her Indian partner, 29, were pushed hard by Czech duo Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka but came through the battle 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

It stretched the top seeds’ win streak to 36 matches, the third best in WTA history and the longest unbeaten run since Jana Novotna and Helen Sukova reached 44 in 1990.

The longest win streak ever belongs to Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver, who won an unprecedented 109 straight matches over a two-year period from 1983-1985.

“Thanks Sania, without you I wouldn’t be here today,” said Hingis. “We’ve struggled through heat and rain this year and it’s been a tough tournament.”

Mirza added: “We’ve had an incredible year and we just want to keep going. Martina is an amazing champion and it’s a privilege for me to play with her.”

After a roller coaster opening set where breaks were traded, the top seeds were taken to a tiebreak but quickly got the upper hand and comfortably came out on top 7-1.

They got an early break in the second set and the seventh-seeded Hlavac-kova and Hradecka, playing together since 2008, never looked like getting back in it.

There was a chink of light when the Czech pair broke Hingis at 2-5 as she was serving for the championship, but they were then broken themselves as the accolades went to their opponents.

Hingis and Mirza have been hugely successful since teaming up last March at Indian Wells, and the now world number ones went on to reach 10 finals last season.

They opened their 2016 campaign by winning titles in Brisbane and Sydney, and now Melbourne. It was the 12th career Grand Slam doubles title for Hingis, who has now won five Australian Opens (1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2016), two French Opens (1998, 2000), three at Wimbledon (1996, 1998, 2015) and two on the New York hardcourts in 1998 and 2015.

I’m better than last year, Serena warns Kerber Serena Williams on Friday warned she was playing better now than when she won three Grand Slams last year as Angelique Kerber attempts to halt the American juggernaut's record-equalling attempt in the final.

Despite being virtually untouchable, the 34-year-old believes her game is now on another level, with a near flawless first set against Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals ample evidence.

Williams hit 18 aces to just four unforced errors in the 6-0 slaughter that the fourth-seeded Pole declared was the best tennis she had ever faced.

“I would say this is probably the best Slam I’ve played in a year, and I’ve won a lot in a year,” said Williams, the top seed.