Errani and Vinci Over Aussie Team in AO Doubles Final

Italy's Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci claimed their third Major title by defeating an all-Australian team in the Australian Open Women's Doubles Finals.

By Erik Gudris

(January 25, 2013) -- Though they battled all-event long in several close matches, top seed Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci celebrated by winning the Australian Open Women's Doubles title.

The Italians secured an easy 6-2 opening set over the wildcard team of Australia's Ash Barty and Casey Dellacqua who looked just happy to be on court in their first ever Grand Slam final.

(Related:10 Things On Ash Barty)

Barty and Dellacqua managed to keep smiling when they went down an early break of serve in the second set while Errani and Vinci remained stoic in their quest for the title having lost in the finals last year. Errani especially looked tense and it was several volley errors from her that allowed the Aussie pair to break back for 3-all. Barty, the youngest woman on the court at age 16, showed off her net prowess, as she hit a high backhand volley at an extreme angle that helped her team move out in front 4-3.

The Aussies kept their momentum going by breaking the Italians late in the set. That set up Dellacqua who served it out 6-3 thanks with help from another Errani error.

Both teams traded breaks of serve in the final set and though the Aussies remained loose and upbeat, it was the Italians who cleaned up their game just in time. Scrappy net play from the Italians help them break Barty's serve to go up 4-2 and from there the Italians remained in control as they then held serve for 5-2.

Finding herself down 0-40 while serving to stay in the match, Dellacqua saved one match point but then sent a backhand long on the second match point to give the Italians the 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory.

This is the first Australian Open title for the Italians who also won Roland Garros and the U.S. Open last year during a stellar 2012 season that propelled the team to No. 1 in the world.

(Photo Credit: Getty)