US Open: Leander Paes, Martina Hingis win mixed doubles title

India`s Leander Paes and Swiss Martina Hingis became the first team since 1969 to win three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in the same season at the US Open on Friday.

The fourth seeds defeated American duo Sam Querrey and Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 to add the New York crown to their wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

The only other team to win three majors in the same year were Marty Riessen and Margaret Court 46 years ago.

Paes, 42, has also passed his former doubles partner, Mahesh Bhupathi, as the most successful mixed doubles champion in the Open Era with nine Grand Slam titles.

It was his 17th title in total at the majors while Hingis, 34, now has 19 from five singles, 10 women`s doubles and four mixed.

Hingis can win another this weekend as she will team up with India`s Sania Mirza in the women`s doubles final against Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova.

"I just love to play tennis and I am fortunate to have Leander as my partner," said Hingis.

Paes and Hingis have fine-tuned their teamwork by playing together for Washington in the World Team Tennis league.

"Martina is a legend on and off the court," said Paes, who first played in New York in 1991 when he won the boys title.

"She`s my best friend. She`s just fantastic."