Melbourne: Italian pair Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini won their first Grand Slam doubles title on Saturday when they beat the French challenge of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in the Australian Open final.
The unseeded Italians, who were in their ninth Grand Slam as a team, battled to a 6-4, 6-4 win in 1hr 22mins on Rod Laver Arena to become the first men from their country to claim a major doubles title since 1959.
They also became the first Italians to win at Melbourne Park.
"We played a great tournament, but I never thought we`d get this far. I`m so happy," said Bolelli.
Herbert and Mahut, also unseeded, were playing together for the first time in Melbourne and said that despite losing they clicked and would continue as a team.
"I`m speechless. We tried our best but it wasn`t enough," said Mahut. "But it`s our first tournament together and I`m sure we`ll have success."
