Russian veterans Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva have combined to win the Australian Open women’s doubles championship, beating Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in Friday’s final.

The unseeded Russians needed three match points before Kuznetsova served it out 5-7 6-4 6-3.

The winners are both better known for their singles accomplishments, with Kuznetsova having French and US Open singles trophies, while both she and Zvonareva have been as high as No.2 in the world individually.

Their win gave them their first tournament victory as a pairing, although both have won grand slam doubles trophies before with other partners.

It was Kuznetsova’s second Australian Open doubles title, with her previous triumph coming in partnership with Australia’s Alicia Molik in 2005.

Zvonareva won the 2006 US Open with Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy.