Bhupathi-Pierce win mixed title

Indo-French pair defeated Paul Hanley of Australia and Tatiana Perebiynis of Ukraine in Wimbledon final.

Mahesh Bhupathi won his first Grand Slam title in nearly three years when he, along with Mary Pierce of France, won the mixed doubles title at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on Sunday.

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The 30-year-old Bhupathi, who won the Wimbledon mixed title and US Open men's doubles title in 2002, and two-time Grand Slam singles winner Pierce defeated Paul Hanley of Australia and Tatiana Perebiynis of Ukraine in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 on Centre Court.

The Indo-French pair, playing their second consecutive match of the day, dominated the final which they won in 54 minutes. They forced an early break in the first set before winning it in 28 minutes.

The second set also followed a similar pattern as Bhupathi and Pierce overpowered their opponents making full use of their rich experience.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee congratulated Bhupathi on winning the title and praised the Indian's "powerplay" which won his fourth mixed doubles Grand Slam title.

Mahesh Bhupathi's Grand Slam titles:

1997: French Open - mixed doubles with Rika Hiraki of Japan

1999: French Open and Wimbledon - doubles with Leander Paes

1999: US Open - mixed doubles with Ai Sugiyama of Japan

2001: French Open - doubles with Leander Paes

2002: Wimbledon - mixed doubles with Elena Likhovtseva of Russia

2002: US Open - doubles with Max Mirnyi

2005: Wimbledon - mixed doubles with Mary Pierce of France.