MELBOURNE (AFP) — Unseeded Ukrainian sisters Alona Bondarenko and Kateryna Bondarenko made their breakthrough on the doubles circuit by storming to the Australian Open women's title Friday.
The Kharkov-based duo came back from a set down to overwhelm Israel's Shahar Peer and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the 12th seeds, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
It was their first major doubles title and they credited a new-found maturity in Melbourne, as they learnt to cut out the bickering on court that hampered them in the past
Asked why they were so solid here, Alona replied: "Because we are sisters.
"Last year we didn't play very good doubles because sometimes we fought on the court. But now we are starting to listen to each other and understand each other, and maybe that's the key."
In the men's doubles final, France's seveth seeded Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra will play Israel's eighth seeded Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram on Saturday.
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