Australian Open: Spears-Cabal conquer Sania-Dodig pair to win mixed doubles title

The unseeded Spears-Cabal pair beat the more experienced Indian-Croatian duo of Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

Abigail Speers of the US and Juan Sebastian Cabal, left, of Colombia hold their trophy after defeating India's Sania Mirza, second right, and Ivan Dodig, right, in the mixed doubles' final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne. | AP

MELBOURNE: American Abigail Spears and Colombian partner Juan Sebastian Cabal swept to a first Grand Slam mixed doubles title Sunday with a straight-sets victory at the Australian Open.

The unseeded pair beat the more experienced Indian-Croatian duo of Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

They took a quick double break in the first set, with the solid Spears serving it out in under 30 minutes.

Mirza and Dodig surged to a 3-0 lead in the second set but they couldn't hold on, with Spears and Cabal clawing back into the match and the Colombian winning it with a smash.