Spice Girls win Australian doubles crown

The Australian Open's dream duo of Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis won their second grand slam doubles title on Friday with a 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 victory over Daniela Hantuchova and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.

The glamorous pair repeated their 1999 Melbourne Park feat with a sizzling performance in the Rod Laver Arena centre court.

"I'd like to thank our team -- our mothers and my father -- for all their support and being tough with us, thank you," Kournikova said afterwards.

"Also thanks to the fans for coming and watching us...this is only our third grand slam together and we've won two so it is great."

The result bodes well for Hingis ahead of Saturday's singles final. On each of the three occasions Hingis has won the doubles with three different partners -- she has gone on to win the singles.

The Swiss successfully teamed up with Natasha Zvereva in 1997, Mirjana Lucic in 1998 before forging the "Spice Girls" pairing with Kournikova and lifting the Australian crown in '99.

Hingis faces defending champion Jennifer Capriati on Saturday in a repeat of last year's singles final.

Back in tandem after a well-publicised split late in 2000, Hingis and Kournikova, seeded eighth here, romped through the first set showing great touch and tactical awareness on the doubles court.

SCAMPERED TIRELESSLY

Kournikova, in her now-trademark powder blue outfit of hot-pants and sleeveless top scampered tirelessly around the court with a rope of blonde pony-tail swinging at the back of her white sun-visor.

Hingis, in a tailored white outfit, competed with her partner for the photographers' attention as she marshalled the net with poise and confidence.

Scrutinised by a sea of lenses, the high-profile pair looked to be heading for a straightforward victory.

But in the second set the Slovak-Spanish pairing hit back. With Hingis keen to get off court in the 30 degrees-plus heat, Kournikova seemed to feel the pressure and began to rush and make errors.

Hantuchova -- Wimbledon mixed doubles winner with Leos Friedl last year -- hit a series of astute lobs and the 13th seeds levelled the match on a tiebreak.

Hingis dropped her serve in the opening game of the decider but the Russian-Swiss pair stole back the break taking Sanchez-Vicario's serve.

Kournikova held for 2-1 with Hingis dominant at the net and, despite veteran Sanchez-Vicario's attempts to help settle 18-year-old Hantuchova in the next game, the teenager appeared to let the occasion get to her as she dropped serve.

Kournikova saved a break point on Hingis's serve with an athletic smash and the eighth seeds moved 4-1 ahead.

Sanchez-Vicario was broken again and Kournikova, given the chance to serve out for victory, made no mistake.

"I'd like to thank my partner Martina, she's been great," Kournikova said as she accepted the trophy.

"I want to wish her all the luck tomorrow...hope you play a great game," she told the Swiss.