Australia & New Zealand Share World Doubles Spoils

New Zealanders Shelley Kitchen and Tamsyn Leevey denied the hosts a clean sweep of gold medals in the 3rd WSF World Doubles Championships when they beat Australians Robyn Cooper & Sarah Fitz-Gerald in today's Women's final at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre in Australia.

The second-seeded Kiwi pair struck gold when they overcame the giant-killers of the tournament, five-times World Open champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald and former Australian international Robyn Cooper, seeded in the 5/8 group, 9-6 10-8 9-6.

Australia won both gold and silver in the Mixed event with Australian Open champion Rachael Grinham and former world No10 Joseph Kneipp outgunning Aussie youngsters Amelia Pittock and Cameron Pilley 9-6 9-1 5-9 9-4, although former world No1 Grinham was required to leave the court at 7-4 in the final game with a leg injury.

After considering their options following a lengthy break, the No1 seeds carried on to take the next two points to clinch the world mixed title.

Australia made it a double gold championship when top-seeded Anthony Ricketts and Stewart Boswell recovered from two games down to defeat fellow Aussies Dan Jenson and Joseph Kneipp, the second seeds, 7-9 4-9 9-4 9-7 9-5 to take the Men's Doubles crown.

Men's final:
[1] Anthony Ricketts & Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt [2] Dan Jenson & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) 7-9, 4-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-5

Women's final:
[3/4] Shelley Kitchen & Tamsyn Leevey (NZL) bt [5/8] Robyn Cooper & Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) 9-6, 10-8, 9-6

Mixed final:
[1] Rachael Grinham & Joseph Kneipp (AUS) bt [5/8] Amelia Pittock & Cameron Pilley (AUS) 9-6, 9-1, 5-9, 9-4