Giving the home crowd something to cheer about, Sania Mirza partnered South African Liezel Huber to a comprehensive doubles victory at the $175,000 Sunfeast Open in Kolkata.
Top seeds Sania and Huber scripted a convincing 6-4, 6-0 win in just under an hour against Ukrainian duo of Yuliana Fedak and Yulia Beygelzimer in the final to clinch their third career title on the WTA Tour.
The pair, who had won at Hyderabad in 2004 and at Bangalore this year, pocketed a winners' cheque of $8,250 and 120 WTA points.
The result was symbolic of Sania's fortunes on the court this season which has seen her struggle in the singles play but flourish in doubles.
It was her fifth appearance in a doubles final this year, having also ended runner up at Amelia Island (with Huber), at Istanbul (Alicia Molik) and Cincinnati (Domochowska).
"Any title is special. This is my first title in Kolkata. I hope I will comeback next year and win the singles," a jubilant Sania said after the match.
"Today, we played good tennis. I also played better. And what's important is that we won," said the 19-year-old from Hyderabad.