Yan Zi and Zheng Jie clinched China's first ever tennis Grand Slam title by winning the Australian Open women's doubles final in a spectacular come-from-behind victory on Friday.

The 12th seeded pair delivered a new year present to the Chinese people who are celebrating Spring Festival on Sunday.

Overcoming two match points against them in the second set, the Chinese wore out top seeds Lisa Raymond of the United States and Samantha Stosur of Australia 2-6, 7-6, 6-3.

The Grand Slam victory highlights the duo's rapid progress over the last 12 months. They reached the semi-finals or better at seven tour events last year, raising China's reputation as a tennis force to be reckoned with following Sun Tiantian and Li Ting's historic Olympic doubles gold at Athens in 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2006)