Modi lauds Paes for winning Australian Open

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday congratulated Indian tennis icon Leander Paes for winning the Australian Open mixed doubles title.

"Leander Paes continues to make us proud! I congratulate him on the mixed doubles win with Martina Hingis at the Australian Open," Modi said.

Paes and his Swiss partner beat French-Canadian team of Kristina Mladenovic and Daniel Nestor in straight sets to clinch the crown Sunday.

Paes has now won 15 Grand Slam titles - eight men's doubles and seven mixed doubles. It was his third mixed doubles triumph at Melbourne Park, having also won in 2003 with Martina Navratilova, and 2010 with Cara Black.