Williams doubles act to run and run

Venus and Serena Williams, who were wild-card entries, won the Australian Open women's doubles title in Melbourne today.

The sisters, who are Wimbledon champions, beat 1999 Wimbledon winners Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in an all-American final.

Having won the French and US Open titles two years ago, it completed their Grand Slam set. They were also Olympic gold medallists in Sydney last September.

Their partnership will probably dominate women's doubles for some time yet because afterwards neither could suggest another player they would like to team up with for future events.

Venus said: "I can't imagine playing with anyone else but Serena. We love playing with each other. We have a great understanding. I know that no matter what I do, Serena will always be there for me."

The match was delayed for an hour by heavy rain.

Serena and Venus went out to Martina Hingis in the singles, Serena 8-6 in the third set of a memorable quarter-final, and Venus 6-1, 6-1 in a one-sided semi-final.

But their combined force proved too much for Davenport and Morariu.

The Williamses conceded an early break of serve to trail 1-3 in the deciding set but hit back to break their opponents' serve in the sixth game and once more to close out the match after one hour, 46 minutes.

The pair claimed the winners' prize of £132,000.

Davenport and Morariu, who was celebrating her 23rd birthday today, collected £66,000 as runners-up.

Venus said: "I want to thank the Australian Open committee for giving us a wild card - because our doubles ranking wasn't good enough to get us in the draw!

"But we should qualify for a ranking after this tournament, and it will be interesting to see where we enter."

Serena, who has shrugged off the bout of gastroenteritis which had dogged her during her quarter-final singles defeat by Hingis, added: "This is no consolation at all for losing in the singles.

"We both want to be known as singles players. But you have to recognise that she (Hingis) just played very well.

"The doubles is a different competition altogether and, make no mistake, we are both very happy to have won here."

Meanwhile, in a mixed doubles semi-final Joshua Eagle, of Australia and Barbara Schett, of Austria, beat Australia's Todd Woodbridge and Rennae Stubbs 6-2, 7-6.

In the boys' doubles quarter-final, British pair Andrew Banks and Tom Pocock beat Czech duo Dusan Karol and Michal Kokta.