Frenchmen Herbert, Mahut win men’s doubles title in Melbourne

Monday, 28 January 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert (R) and Nicolas Mahut (L) celebrate during the presentation ceremony after their victory against Finland’s Henri Kontinen and Australia’s John Peers during the men’s doubles final on day 14 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 27, 2019 - AFP

MELBOURNE (Reuters): French pair Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut beat 2017 champions Finn Henri Kontinen and local hope John Peers 6-4 7-6(1) to win their maiden Australian Open men’s doubles title on Sunday.

With the victory, Herbert and Mahut added the Melbourne Park title to their U.S. Open, Wimbledon and French Open crowns to complete the career Grand Slam.

The Frenchmen, seeded fifth at the year’s first Grand Slam, got the only break in the opening set when they broke Kontinen’s serve at 4-4 and then Herbert held on.

The second set went on serve before Herbert and Mahut got the upper hand in the tie-breaker to seal the victory in an hour and 38 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.