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Mladenovic and Babos claim Open doubles

3 minute read

Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic shrugged off early exits in their respective Australian Open singles campaigns to claim the women's doubles crown.

Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic have claimed Australian Open women's doubles glory for the second time in three years, toppling No.1 seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Barbora Strycova 6-2 6-1.

Babos and Mladenovic didn't drop a set all tournament and made amends for last year's final loss to Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai with a comfortable win in the 2020 decider.

The Hungarian-French pairing were rarely troubled as they claimed their third Grand Slam doubles title together, having also won the 2019 French Open.

"Really the way we are together and the way we are just fitting together, I think it's pretty much becoming unbeatable," Babos said.

The duo will split $760,000 for their win.

Mladenovic paid tribute to their close friendship after the match, saying it had helped them recover from being knocked out in the first round of the singles event.

"We both lost pretty early in the tournament in singles," Mladenovic said.

"It's tough because we are competitors. We wanted to do better. It's not always easy to kind of stick around and keep working and believing. It's the beginning of the season, so you expect much of yourself.

"It makes it just so much easier to have your best friend by your side because you can fulfil those long days of work that a best friend or family around, I'm very grateful."

Mladenovic now has four women's grand slam doubles titles to her name, after previously winning the 2016 French Open with countrywoman Caroline Garcia.

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