Romania’s Horia Tecau and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands have won their first grand slam titles, taking out a tense Australian Open mixed doubles final at Melbourne Park.

Eighth-seeded Tecau and Mattek-Sands overcame a nervous second set on Sunday to beat India’s doubles specialist Leander Paes and Russian Elena Vesnina 6-3 5-7 10-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

Tecau, 27, and Mattek-Sands, 26, took early control with a quick service break in the first set and were excellent on their returns of serve.

They looked set for a comfortable win, leading 6-3 4-3, before Paes and Vesnina fought back to give the Indian veteran a chance to add to the men’s doubles title he won on Saturday night.

A tight service game from Mattek-Sands allowed Paes and Vesnina to level at 4-4, before the American was broken again as the tournament’s fifth seeds won the set to force a match tiebreak.

But Mattek-Sands produced a remarkable shot to open the tiebreak which gave momentum back to her pairing.

A huge forehand passing shot from well out of court seemed to ease any tension the pair felt, and they went on win the match in one hour and 42 minutes.