The Swiss-Indian team started 2016 the way they ended 2015, winning. They entered the first tournament of the year, Brisbane International. SanTina, as their more popularly known dropped only one set throughout the tournament as they defeated wild card German pairing Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic 7-5, 6-1 to claim the title.
The pair were then headed to Sydney where they were looking to make history. The Swiss and Indian duo cruised their way to the final, where they only had lost one set. The world’s best doubles team looked out of place in the final, trailing 1-6, 2-5, yet somehow rallied to win the match 1-6, 7-5, 10-5. Yet when the French team were presented with the opportunity to serve it out, Garcia and Mladenovic tightened up and SanTina reeled away to win five games on the bounce, which sent the match into a super tiebreak, in which they won.
Third straight Grand Slam title
The world number one pairing of Hingis and Mirza clinched their third Grand Slam title in a row and ninth consecutive WTA title together as they defeated the Czech pairing of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka.
The opening set was close as both pairs broke four times during the match before Sania Mirza sealed it in a tiebreak, after more than an hour when Hradecka sent a forehand service return long.
The Czech team never gave up as they broke Hingis while serving for the championship, though it was Hingis who ultimately sealed victory when Hradecka sent a running forehand over the baseline.
Continuing their superb form, Hingis and Mirza extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches, winning nine titles including three Grand Slams and the WTA Year-End Championships in Singapore.
This was Mirza’s sixth Grand Slam title, while Hingis has 12 Grand Slams to her name. She was the defending mixed doubles champion but was defeated by Mirza and her partner Ivan Dodig.
