US Open, Flushing Meadows, New York

Mixed doubles final result:

L PAES/C BLACK bt J MURRAY/L HUBER

7-6 (8-6) 6-4

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

By Chris Bevan

1745: Disappointment for Jamie Murray then, but we still have another Murray left in this tournament don't we? Fingers crossed for Andy then. I'll be back in a little while for the Roger Federer-Gilles Muller match. Thanks for your banter and texts and keep them coming.

1740: Paes and Black, who didn't drop a set throughout the whole tournament, have just received their trophy. Murray and Huber will look back at their 6-4 lead in the first-set tie-break and think about what might have been but there is no doubting their opponent's quality, particularly around the net.

"Great work Paes/Black. Glad to see you winning. Hip Hip Hurray."
honda_civic on 606
Join the debate on 606

"Cara Black was probably the best player out here on the court - she came up with some unbelievable volleys on vital points - one of them was on a set-point to Murray in the first set. But once she and Paes had won the first set they swung a little easier and were far more relaxed."
Wendy Turnbull on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 4-6 L Paes/C Black
A good start for Murray who somehow gets a racquet to a Paes smash and sees the next one end up in the net. From there, the Paes serve takes over though, giving him the next two points before Murray puts a volley in the net to give Paes and Black two championship points. He is in at the net to put the next volley away and PAES AND BLACK WIN THE MIXED DOUBLES TITLE.

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 4-5 L Paes/C Black
Murray wobbled last time he served but he makes no mistake this time, folliowing in to mop up at the net if anything does come back. That's all well and good but Paes will serve for the match now - it is now or never for Murray and Huber...they need to break if they are to stay in this match.

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 3-5 L Paes/C Black
Well, if they do lose this game then Murray and Huber have certainly had their chances. Black and Paes are not quite so sharp around the net in this one but they hold out and are just one game away from victory.

"Chris, I just realised that there are no advantage points in the doubles matches. Instead of slating me for my earlier (rather hasty) insult, could you please explain which insane person decided this? And why didn't they tell me?!"
Jon, in Hitchin via text on 81111

I don't blame you for being confused Jon - not exactly sure who is behind this idea but I think it was some TV executive over in the United States who was concerned about doubles games clogging up his schedule!

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 3-4 L Paes/C Black
Paes produces a beast of a cross-court forehand to leave Huber 15-30 down and Black repeats the trick into the opposite corner to make it 15-40. But a couple of rare mistakes by Paes and Black mean Huber claws back to deuce and this time the sudden-death point goes to her after another exciting rally at the net. Phew! Murray and Huber still need a break though.

"Chris, do you have any knowledge of the game of tennis? Your comment of "Paes double-faults at 30-all so faces two break-points" makes me think the answer is a big fat no. You made a similar error in the 12th game of the first set. YOU CAN'T WIN THE GAME AT DEUCE!"
Jon, in Hitchin via text on 81111

Thanks Jon, but there is no advantage point in the mixed-doubles at the US Open, making it sudden-death on deuce. I thought I explained this earlier but I hope that clears things up!

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 2-4 L Paes/C Black
Black's turn to take charge at the net, putting away two volley winners on the Paes serve, and although a stinging Huber return holds them up, Black is in no mood to mess around with more sharp net-play to wrap things up.

"You just sense that Paes and Black have upped their game and have taken control of this match."
David Law on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 2-3 L Paes/C Black
Murray is living dangerously here, double-faulting to leave us at 30-all, and again to set up another sudden-death deuce. This time it goes against him though, as Cara reads his volley perfectly and puts away her return at the net. Oh dear. Murray and Huber are in trouble here.

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 2-2 L Paes/C Black
The Black serve has been a bit shaky so far but not on this occasion, mainly thanks to more imperious volleying by Paes who tidies things up whenever the ball comes near him.

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 2-1 L Paes/C Black
Huber is in trouble here at 30-all and a double-fault does not help matters. But Black sends a volley wide to set up another of those sudden-death points and this time Murray steps in to win it at the net. Phew.

"That shows the importance of winning sudden-death points. If you don't do that you are up the creek."
Wendy Turnbull on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 1-1 L Paes/C Black
Ah. A great chance for a first break on the Paes serve but it goes begging I'm afraid. Paes double-faults at 30-all so faces two break-points but he pulls two booming serves out of the bag to hold instead. Next time guys.

J Murray/L Huber 6-7 (6-8) 1-0 L Paes/C Black
That was a very disappointing end to the set for Murray and Huber but Murray puts it behind him quickly with four thumping serves that help him hold to love. Emphatic stuff but a lot of work to do to turn this one around.

J Murray/L Huber 6-6 (6-8) L Paes/C Black
A delightful lob by Huber on Black's serve gives her the first mini-break and, after Huber holds, her and Murray have two set-points at 6-4. It all goes horribly wrong from that point, however, as a stunning reaction volley from Black and a poacher's smash by Paes haul them level and Paes is in inspired form at the net to snatch the next two points too. So near and yet so far for Murray and Huber but PAES AND BLACK TAKE THE FIRST SET!

"I'm stunned because Jamie and Liezel had played so well - they were a little unlucky there."
Wendy Turnbull on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 6-6 L Paes/C Black
Huber's turn to be put under pressure, and at such a crucial stage too. With no advantage to be played she is in a spot of bother at 40-30 up, especially when she apparently double-faults. She challenges the call, however, and wins - so, instead of facing a break-point, she holds and we are into a tie-break. Yay.

"Jamie is edging ever-nearer to the centre of the court whenever Huber serves - he is desperate to intercept and that actually makes the court seem smaller to their opponents."
Jonathan Overend on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 5-6 L Paes/C Black
Let's face it, the Black serve is the one that is going to be broken and 5-5 would be a good time to do it. Murray and Huber have a good shout too, with some smart volleying taking them to 15-30. Murray sends the next shot long, however, and Paes gobbles up Huber's loose return at the net on the next point too before a pile-driver of a smash sees them hold. Maybe next time for Murray and Co.

J Murray/L Huber 5-5 L Paes/C Black
Huber sees one backhand volley come off her frame and sends another fly wild and long. Trouble for Murray at 0-30 but a big serve from him and a bigger smash from Huber take us to 30-all. It is still in the balance but two mistakes by Paes mean Jamie eventually holds. Judy Murray is courtside by the way - she only arrived in New York a couple of days ago though...just in time to see her boys collect some trophies?

J Murray/L Huber 4-5 L Paes/C Black
A bit of a mixed-bag for Paes who throws in an ace but sends a backhand volley well wide. A couple of great rallies see Murray send down one smashed winner but he is wild with his next overhead and Paes has held again. He and Black are one game away from taking the first set.

J Murray/L Huber 4-4 L Paes/C Black
Black comes out on top in a battle of reflex volleys at the net and it is suddenly Huber who is in trouble at 15-40. Black puts both break-points long though and, because we no longer have 'advantage' points in doubles, Huber quickly wraps up the game to level.

J Murray/L Huber 3-4 L Paes/C Black
More trouble for Black on serve as two meaty returns put her 0-30 down. Paes has a word and moves inside to the centre of court on serve - it's the right move too as he puts away two delicious volleys to help Black hold again. That was close again though.

"Jamie and Liezel threatened at 0-30 but the important thing for Cara was that she got good first serves in on the next three points which let Paes poach at the net."
Wendy Turnbull on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 3-3 L Paes/C Black
Murray's first double-fault is his only blip as he again takes command at the net and holds without any problems. Black tries to get one of his smashes back but only succeeds in hitting fresh air.

"The sun is causing the players a few problems with their serve - it is right overhead court now."
Jonathan Overend on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 2-3 L Paes/C Black
Paes certainly packs a bit of power in his serve but he is mis-firing at the moment - a double-fault gives Murray/Huber a sniff at 30-all. They don't get near his next two serves, though, so no breaks yet.

J Murray/L Huber 2-2 L Paes/C Black
Huber's turn to serve and she gets off to a good start when Paes returns straight at Murray, who thumps away a volley winner. Black tries a different tactic, lobbing Murray, but that doesn't work either. In fact, by trying to attack her serve, Paes and Black make two unforced errors and Huber has held to love. Easy that.

J Murray/L Huber 1-2 L Paes/C Black
The Black serve is under pressure from the start and although Paes tries to help out by moving across the net to poach, he only succeeds in confusing his partner. Murray and Huber get to 30-all and we have our first sniff of a break but Black puts an overhead away, then finds a bit more oomph with her next delivery to hold.

"You always expect the men to hold serve in mixed doubles but the women's serve is far more vulnerable."
Wendy Turnbull on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

J Murray/L Huber 1-1 L Paes/C Black
The stands are slowly filling up here on Arthur Ashe as Murray serves for the first time and it is he and Huber who are looking to take control at the net now. Murray lets one point slip when Black gets a racquet to his smash and sees the ball drop just inside the left tramline but, otherwise, a faultless volleying display from him and Huber sees him hold to level. Nice.

J Murray/L Huber 0-1 L Paes/C Black
Paes is first to serve and he is quickly into the net to smash the ball right at Jamie. Ouch. Huber and Murray are staying on the baseline for Paes' first serve but moving forward for his second - not that it makes much difference here as Paes holds comfortably thanks to a delicate half-volley.

1759: Here we go then. Paes to serve.

1756: "Paes is a real extrovert - he likes to showboat a little bit and dive around the net but he is a really effective doubles player as well."
Jonathan Overend on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

1753: Paes is no mug either by the way - he has got seven men's and mixed doubles Grand Slam titles in the bag already - but let's not leave Jamie out of this; who can forget his mixed doubles success with Jelena Jankovic in 2007? Game on then.

1751: The players are out on court and warming up. The stadium doesn't exactly look full but it is a lovely sunny day in New York.

1749: Here's my first (and probably also last) interesting fact of the day. Huber (who was born in South Africa but plays for the United States now) and Black play women's doubles together and are jointly ranked number one in the world - they have won three doubles Grand Slams together and are in the semi-finals this year at Flushing Meadows too. Hmmm, it's possible they might know a little bit about each other's game then...?

1743: Jamie and his partner Liezel Huber are up against Leander Paes of India and Cara Black of Zimbabwe and it should be a bit of a cracker - this lot are all doubles specialists you see. Expect thrills and spills at the net and lots of amazing rallies. I hope.

1740: There's no stopping these Murray boys is there? Hours after Andy reaches his first Grand Slam semi-final, it's Jamie's turn on Arthur Ashe Court in the final of the mixed doubles.