Roundup: Peng Shuai back on track to regain world ranking

Despite losing her Australian Open womens doubles final with partner Andrea Hlavackova, China's Peng Shuai is back on track to regain her singles and doubles ranking following her sidelining from back and leg injuries.

The American "Spider-Man" Bethanie Mattek-Sands and the "Czech Wall" Lucie Safarova -- describing their unconventional tactic of one at the net, one at the baseline -- celebrated "like five year olds" after downing the pair in a tight 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-3 to win the Australian Open womens doubles championship on Friday, never doubting they would pull off a come-from-behind win.

"You go into a final expecting the other team to have confidence, they've won a lot of great matches, they beat two really good teams in the semis and quarters in two straight sets," Mattek-Sands told reporters post match.

"We're positive out there, we stick together, and we have fun.

"I think that's one of the reasons, if we're up or down, it doesn't matter, we keep playing our game."

Part of their game is using unconventional tactics and others "where we mix it up," allowing their game to improve throughout the first set to become more dominant in the second.

"A lot of times some great doubles teams get used to seeing one thing, that's why we'll play I-formation," Mattek-Sands said, adding they stayed two back against Japan's Eri Hozumi and Miyu Kato in the semis.

"We actually mix it up based on how our opponents are playing, where they're returning, what they like, then we go with what we like, too," Mattek-Sands said.

Peng and Hlavackova had their chance to get back into the third set, however an early break point off a Hlavackova double fault essentially closed the match for the now two-time Australian Open doubles champions.

"The second and third set I think [Hlavackova was] quite nervous," Peng told reporters, adding at 1-3 she had three break points but Safarova had three really good first serves.

"(But) it's good for us as we make our first grand slam final, we beat the No. 3 seed, No. 1 seed and in the final we faced No. 2 seed," Peng added.

"So all the strong team we cannot say we'll win every time, but I think it's a really good tournament for us, just beginning the year so we're really looking forward."

The loss ends a stellar Australian Open campaign for Peng after exiting the singles tournament in round two after losing in straight sets to former world No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard.

Though being put on the back foot after Bouchard took the first set in a grueling tie breaker, carrying momentum into the second, her comeback from injury which began with her first career singles title at the Tianjin Open in October 2016 has given her a boost in confidence for the rest of 2017.

"My ranking, both doubles and singles, I feel I can improve it, I want to keep challenging my body," Peng said.

The former women's doubles world No. 1 stepped aside from competition after retiring injured from the first round at Roland Garos in 2015 with a back injury that was more serious than expected after costing her a series of matches over the 2015 season. The back injury caused significant leg problems for the Chinese star, for which she had surgery, returning to court in the back end of 2016.

"I'm proud of myself, I almost (gave) up actually," Peng said, adding she still "have a dream in the tennis court.

"After the injury, I tried it, and even then every day (was) tough because I have to get acupuncture for my nerve in my back, therapy to recovery the body, but.. I' m happy to play, I still want it.

"It's not going to be long, but maybe I can do three or four years, it's perfect."

Regaining her world number one crown will require a bit of time, given "now there are many tough team" ... (but) maybe another perfect grand slam "to get a huge point" could do it, though "it doesn't matter anyway, I just keep going, looking forward," Peng said.

"They coming, don't coming, I'm still happy to play." Endit