Sania Mirza, Martina Hingis win 13th title, stretch winning run to 40

 

The famed Indo-Swiss pair registered an easy 6-3, 6-1 victory over the Russian-Czech team of Vera Dushevina and Barbora Krejcikova in the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy women's doubles final.

The final match, which lasted just an hour, witnessed the top-ranked players playing possibly their best tennis for some time.

This is Santina's fourth title this year. They started the year with wins in Brisbane and Sydney before completing a hat-trick of Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open.

They are now 4 wins away from equaling the all-time record of 44 set by Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova in 1990.

After their upset loss in the French Open quarter-finals, they have claimed titles at Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Beijing, the WTA Finals in Singapore, Brisbane and Sydney last year.

Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis survive scare to enter St. Petersburg final, extend win streak to 39

The number one seeds were pushed to the limit by Spaniards Anabel Medina Garrigez and Arrantxa Parra Santonja. 

After a battle that lasted nearly two hours, the Indo-Swiss pair prevailed 7-5, 6-7 and 10-6.

“The match was so long and close because we were facing very tough opponents,” said Sania after the win.

They will face Vera Dushevina and Barbora Krejcikova in the finals.

“We are to clash with an international pair who has a Russian player. But the Russian fans are fair, so we are sure we will get our share of applause” Hingis was quoted as saying by wta.formulatx.com.

Sania and Martina have now won 39 matches on the trot and are just 6 away from equaling the all-time record of 44 set by Jana Novotna and Helena Sukova in 1990.