Israel's Erlich and Ram win doubles title

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Israel's Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram won their first grand slam title with a 7-5 7-6 victory over Frenchmen Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra in the Australian Open men's doubles final on Saturday.

They became the first Israeli pair to win a grand slam title.

Compatriot Shahar Peer and her partner Victoria Azarenka of Belarus lost in the women's doubles final on Friday to Ukraine's Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko.

The match, which followed the women's singles final, was delayed during the first set when a rain downpour over the uncovered Rod Laver Arena made it unplayable with Erlich and Ram leading 4-2.

Tournament staff mopped up the rain with towels and the roof was closed before they returned about 30 minutes later.

Erlich and Ram had a comfortable lead when they restarted but the French Wimbledon champions fought back before the Israelis took the first set.

They had the opportunity to take a 5-3 lead in the second, holding two break points, but the French pair rallied to take a 6-5 lead before Erlich and Ram forced the tiebreak.

The Israeli duo then came back from 3-1 down in the tiebreak to secure the next four points and win it 7-4.