Leander Paes created history by winning the US Open mixed-doubles title with Swiss partner Martina Hingis as the veteran Indian now has the highest number of mixed-doubles titles in Open era.
The fourth seeded pair, edged past unseeded Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 to win their third Major title together this season.
- Paes-Hingis lift U.S. Open mixed-doubles title
The 42-year-old Paes now has won nine Grand Slam mixed-doubles titles, surpassing compatriot and former partner Mahesh Bhupathi's record of eight titles.
He is now behind only legendary Martina Navratilova, who won 10 mixed-doubles trophies. Of those 10, two came with Paes when they won Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2003.
With this win, Paes and Hingis, who also won Australian Open and Wimbledon titles early this season, have become the first mixed-doubles team since 1969 to win three Grand Slam mixed-doubles titles in the same year.
It was Paes's 17th Grand Slam title overall and Hingis's 19th. Hingis has won four Grand Slam titles and all of them have come with Indians. She won her first mixed-doubles trophy with Mahesh Bhupathi when they won the Australian Open in 2006.
Hingis is also in the contention in the Women's Doubles with Sania Mirza with whom she won Wimbledon earlier this year. They are up against Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan and Casey Dellacqua of Australia.
