Mixed Doubles Final

After his contribution towards the Men's Doubles triumph with Radek Stepanek, Leander Paes was backing up the next day with partner Elena Vesnina from Russia to form the dynamic fifth seeds in the 2012 Aus Open Mixed Doubles Final. Feeling just as dynamic were the eight seeded line-up comprising Horia Tecau from Romania and Bethanie Mattek-Sands from the USA.

The latter mentioned team had already given packing orders to the sixth seeded Indian team of Mirza and Bhupathi, and so would not be fazed by facing another higher ranked team in the final. Vesnina had additional motivation - if she and Leander tasted success it would also mean a clean sweep by Russia of all doubles trophies able to be won by women here at Melbourne Park, with Kuznetsova and Zvonareva already in possession of the Women's Doubles prize.

"Bethanie - this secret must remain with you - understand?" 

Tecau opened the match with a positive vibe, serving strongly, successful first deliveries assisting with a love game. Paes encountered difficulties with his first trip to the line, including a lob by Bethanie and a pass down the middle by Horia, another love game the result, and 2-0 for the Tecau/Mattek-Sands combo. The first two points for Paes/Vesnina came on Bethanie's serve including a shot to her solar plexus for which only her racquet prevented a hospital visit. A great return off a second serve sealed the game for the 5th seeds and they were on the board at 1-2 and on serve.

A sensational return down the line from Bethanie followed by some excellent net work by Horia had Elena in strife in her first service game, and that strife was confirmed on the scoreboard when Bethanie repeated the first shot to win the game and put her team ahead 3-1.

Once more it was Horia to serve and he didn't let us down, still to lose a point, and taking he and his team mate to a position of comfort 4-1. Leander now had to come to the party. He tried but the party spoiler Bethanie returned his first effort for a winner, then Elena could not handle the double attack from the back of the court and 0-30 resulted. Great returning forced Paes to net one for three break points, the first two which were saved due to errors. Deuce came from another shot hit long, and Vesnina's skills at the net showed up just in the nick of time to win the game and keep the team within a single break at 2-4.

Vesnina had the pressure of serving to stay in the set and she began well. 30-0 with two solid serves. Horia stopped that run in its tracks with a definitive volley put away, but missed with a poor return off a second serve and Elena had two game points. Only needing one, games were 5-3 with Horia the reliable to serve for the set.

His run of points on his own serve ended at 10 with a double fault, but that was a minor blip. Although taken to 40-30, Tecau decided to finish his first set ride there, and the eighth seeds had won the first set of the final 6-3 in most impressive fashion, both players contributing well to the result.

Vesnina served first in the second, and shared the opening two points on the back of mistakes. A superb backhand volley brought some class to the occasion courtesy of Paes, before another error from his partner killed the moment. She redeemed herself somewhat with a terrific serve to force a return error from Bethanie, but deuce arrived when Bethanie played a delicate shot from virtually underground to which the 5th seeds were powerless to reply. The deciding point went to the eight seeds, and the break, so the outlook appeared dark for Paes and Vesnina. 0-1.

Tecau serving and yet to drop his serve failed to do so again, with the winning point a great overhead from Bethanie splitting the opposition team in half. 2-0 to the eight seeds.

Bethanie's exemplary returning began a poor service game for Leander who at 15-40 had to save two break points. One saved with an ace. The second with a top serve. The deciding point another great delivery and the game score read 2-1 with Bethanie next to be called upon.
No drama for Bethanie, winning to love 3-1.

An overhead gem from Bethanie began the assault on Elena's next serve, stalled by an errant shot on the next point. 30-30 and precariously placed, Elena escaped with an overcooked smash from Bethanie. An excellent unreturned serve to Tecau confirmed the game for Paes/Vesnina and we were nearing the critical stage of the set. Tecau/Mattek-Sands 3-2 still with a break.

"Oh dear - hope the balls bounce OK for Rafa and Novak"

An exchange between Horia and Elena was won by the Russian and scores were 15-15 on Horia's serve. Paes put away one to place the first bit of pressure on the Romanian serve all match. A double fault brought another dimension to the match before two huge serves brought it back to deuce. The deciding point saw Horia and Bethanie covering the net and they were not letting this game slip away. A big scare but 4-2 the lead.

On the next PaesPaes chipped in to make it 40-15 with a strong serve. Paes completed the game with a nice pass from the back of the court and the team trailed 3-4.

Bethanie to serve. A double to start with after the break to close the roof (yes rain on the final day), followed by an error was not promising, and for the second game in a row the team faced 15-40. No escape this time and a wayward drive long gave the break to the fifth seeds to even it up at 4-4.

Troubles of her own faced Vesnina when a netted volley brought her team to 15-30. A netted return from Horia eased the situation and a poor effort by Bethanie on a second serve produced game point. Vesnina held with a terrific serve and she and Leander had the set lead 5-4.

An ace from Horia clinched the tenth game and 5-5. Vesnina continued her fantastic recent form at the net to bring up 30-0 on the Paes serve before the Indian veteran served a double fault and Bethanie dissected them with a forehand. Finally a baseline was shaved by Paes to win the game and edge his team ahead 6-5.

Bethanie serving to stay in the second set. 0-30 and a super tiebreak warming up in the corner. Two wild misses from the fifth seeds and 30-30. An overhead at the net by Paes brought it to deuce and set point. (just reminding that once deuce is reached the next point decides the game for mixed doubles) Paes volleyed away the winner for the set and the 10 point match tiebreak was rolled out to decide the championship. (again this applies for mixed doubles)

Horia gives marching drill to Bethanie

Paes served first. An awesome running forehand winner from Bethanie put the first point on the board and against serve. Tecau won his first with an ace and second with a stop volley. 3-0.
Vesnina needed to win her two points. She half did the job. 4-1 to the eight seeds.

A net put away from Tecau ensured one of two points went to Bethanie's serve. 5-2. Half the points on serve was the trend and Paes observed it too. 6-3. Tecau served well and Bethanie complemented at the net to scoop both points on his serve. 8-3.

Six match points after Vesnina netted her shot. Only one required for the eighth seeds and the 2012 Australian Open Mixed Doubles Champions are Horia Tecau from Romania and Bethanie Matek-Sands from USA. Great to see the match go to a decider, but the better team did win.