Kudermetova and Mertens claim WTA doubles crown (VIDEO)

Russia's Veronika Kudermetova and Belgian partner Elise Mertens triumphed in Texas

A dramatic fightback in the final set tiebreak earned Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova and her Belgian doubles partner Elise Mertens the crown at the WTA Finals in Texas early on Tuesday morning as they stormed back from a five point deficit to claim a sensational victory against defending champions Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

The final score stood at 6-2, 4-6, [11-9] after Kudermetova and Mertens roared back from 7-2 down to win what is their second doubles trophy of the season, after the mammoth 1 hour 42 minute encounter.

Both teams had been in impressive form throughout the tournament but it was Kudermetova and Mertens who started the match brighter as they combined to shut down their opponents’ service game to race into a 4-0 lead in the first set.

It initially seemed as though the result might be a formality after Kudermetova and Mertens continued their momentum early in the second as they again broke serve to lead 4-3 but a rare Kudermetova error allowed Krejcikova and Siniakova a glimmer of hope, and this was the only invitation they needed as they won the remaining games in the second set without dropping a point.

Pure delight