Mixed Doubles Win for Leach

MELBOURNE, Australia — Rick Leach of Laguna Beach teamed with Manon Bollegraf of the Netherlands to defeat Larisa Neiland and John-Laffnie de Jager, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, today for the mixed doubles championship of the Australian Open.

It was the third mixed doubles title in a Grand Slam tournament for both winners, but the first together for the third-seeded pair.

Leach, 32, a former USC standout who also has four men’s doubles titles in Grand Slams, won the Australian mixed doubles in 1995 with Natasha Zvereva and the Wimbledon event in 1990 with Zina Garrison Jackson.

Bollegraf’s last mixed doubles title came six years ago when she won the U.S. Open with Tom Nijssen.