Back to Top-spot switch as Mattek-Sands/Mirza triumph

Top-spot switch as Mattek-Sands/Mirza triumph

7 January 2017, by Nick McCarvel

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sania Mirza teamed up for the Brisbane International women’s doubles title on Saturday night, capturing the trophy with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

The win means Mattek-Sands overtakes Mirza as the No.1-ranked women’s doubles player in the world.

“If not her, then me,” Mirza said of Mattek-Sands on court. “I feel like I’m handing over this crown to her.”

Mattek-Sands and Mirza were champions together in Brisbane in 2013, while Mirza won here a year ago with then-partner Martina Hingis.

Mattek-Sands/Mirza dropped just one set all week, and were presented little danger by the No.2 seeds, the Russian Olympic champions in Rio.

Mirza ended the match on an ace, giving them their sixth career title as a team.