Ram, Zvonareva win Wimbledon mixed doubles

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WIMBLEDON, England -- Andy Ram of Israel and Russia's Vera Zvonareva won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title Saturday, beating Venus Williams and Bob Bryan of the United States, 6-3, 6-2.

It was Ram's first Grand Slam title. Zvonareva won the U.S. Open mixed doubles title with Bob Bryan in 2004.

The ninth-seeded pair won their semifinal match earlier Saturday, beating No. 3 Wayne and Cara Black of Zimbabwe 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Williams' loss came a week after she was beaten in the third round of the women's singles. She was the defending champion.

Bob Bryan teamed with twin brother Mike to win the men's doubles title earlier Saturday, completing a career Grand Slam.

Bob Bryan and Williams nearly didn't become partners.

Mike Bryan said Williams sent a text message to his brother before Wimbledon, and that Bob Bryan was originally planning to play with Martina Navratilova "but they weren't communicating too well."

"Martina thought she was playing with Bob," Mike Bryan said. "Bob thought she [Navratilova] was playing with Leander [Paes]. It kind of all got messed up. ... I don't think Martina was too happy for a few days."

Navratilova and her partner, Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, were beaten in the third round by Ram and Zvonareva.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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