Paes-Black lose Wimbledon mixed doubles final (Lead)

India's Leander Paes and Cara Black of Zimbabwe went down to Mark Knowles of Bahamas and German Anna-Lena Groenefeld 5-7, 3-6 in the Wimbledon mixed doubles final here Sunday.

The top-seeded pair of Paes and Black were eyeing their second Grand Slam title together after winning the US Open last year.

Knowles and Groenefeld took their chances to beat their higher ranked opponents in an hour and 28 minutes.

Ninth-seeded Knowles and Groenefeld converted three break points, one more than Paes and Black, to take the first set in 49 minutes. The top seeds started well, breaking Knowles in the fifth game and Groenefeld two games later to lead 5-2. But from there on Paes and Black lost the plot, squandering two set points with Knowles and Groenefeld fighting their way back into the match.

Knowles and Groenefeld served tight in the second set, breaking their opponents once to raise a 3-0 lead before winning the set and the match.

The 36-year-old Paes was eyeing his fifth mixed doubles title and 10th Grand Slam overall. He has two Wimbledon mixed doubles titles with Lisa Raymond (1999), and Martina Navratilova (2003).

The Indo-Zimbabwean duo have not met much success following their US Open victory. They lost in the second round of both the Australian and the French Opens. Paes was just a match from his 10th career Grand Slam.

This is the fourth major title and first Wimbeldon for Knowles and the first major trophy for Groenefeld.

Last updated on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 06:48 am IST--IANS