Mattek-Sands, Safarova Capture Aussie Doubles Title

January 27, 2017 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff


Credit photo to Fiona Hamilton/Tennis Australia

American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova captured their fourth Grand Slam title as a duo, coming back from a set down to defeat Andrea Hlavackova and Peng Shuai 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3 and win the Australian Open women’s doubles title.

“We were celebrating like five-year-old kids out there,” said Mattek-Sands. “It still feels amazing to win it. It’s a Grand Slam. When we got the trophy, we saw our names written on it. We knoew we get it written on there again. It’s just special.”

Mattek-Sands and Safarova captured the Melbourne title in 2015, the first of what is now four major titles together.

After dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, Mattek-Sands and Safarova conjured up four break points to win the second set. The pair would record the only break point of the third set, saving three of their own, to complete the comeback and win their second straight Grand Slam title.

“I felt like our game was throughout the match getting better and better,” said Safarova. “We stick together. We were positive. Never doubted that we would be able to pull it out.”


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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