Samantha Stosur is an Australian Open champion once more, teaming with Zhang Shuai to win the women’s doubles.

Stosur and Zhang were emphatic in their defeat of second seeds and reigning champions Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic, winning 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 36 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Stosur was ecstatic in triumph, 14 years after her mixed doubles success at Melbourne Park with Scott Draper.

The popular Queenslander dropped her racquet on championship point as if in disbelief before embracing her great friend at the net.

The victory was a redemption of sorts for the 34-year-old, who with partner Lisa Raymond held championship points to win the same title 13 years ago but failed to convert.

Stosur’s resolve was tested several times through the match; none more so than when she double faulted on her first championship point.

What followed was the point of the match – if not the tournament – a 25-point rally with both Stosur and Zhang missing a number of smash opportunities before holding steady to win another championship point.

They wouldn’t be denied on the next opportunity, claiming their first slam together.

“We were ready for a really tough one today which it was,” Stosur said.

“To Shuai my partner, it’s always a pleasure being on court with you.

“We have a great friendship and that it always shows … win the point, lose the point, we’re always there for each other.”

Crucial to their triumph was a three-from-three break point conversion while Babos and Mladenovic claimed just one of their 11 opportunities.
Stosur was the only player not to be broken during the final but, equally, Zhang’s net play was critical.

The Chinese 30-year-old battled terrifically against the pair of power-hitters.

“(This was an) amazing tournament for me,” she said. “Today a dream (is) coming true for me.”

The title is Stosur’s seventh major; she has won either women’s or mixed championships at each of the four grand slams in addition to the 2011 US Open singles crown.

Stosur and Zhang did it the hard way, knocking out the top seeds in the quarter finals before a semi-final clash that went more than two and a half hours.

Their prize is $350,000 each.

Babos and Mladenovic, last year’s winners at Melbourne Park, knocked Stosur and Zhang out of the US Open last year in the semi-finals.

“Congrats guys, you got your revenge,” Babos said, good-naturedly.

-AAP