MELBOURNE Todd Woodbridge and Jonas Bjorkman beat Zimbabwean Wayne Black and his German partner David Prinosil 6-1 5-7 6-4 6-4 on Saturday to win the Australian Open men's doubles final.

Woodbridge had won 11 major doubles honors as half of the most successful doubles partnership in Open tennis history, alongside fellow Australian Mark Woodforde.

But this was his first with a new partner after Woodforde retired last year.

With his victory on Rod Laver Arena court, Woodbridge also equaled Woodforde's career haul of 12 Grand Slam victories.

Afterward, he set his sights on passing that mark.

Woodbridge, 29, said: "I want to thank Jonas. He had some big shoes to fill but he filled them very quickly, so well done.

"A lot of people have asked me why I wanted to continue when mark retired. Well, I knew he had 12 titles, so it's good to have equaled him.

"I couldn't let him have one up on me!

"I'm still young, and I felt like I had another major in me, like the one we've just won today.

"That was the driving force, and I'm going to continue because I feel I can win more."

Woodbridge, who danced a jig of delight on court after their victory on Saturday, said his partnership with Sweden's Bjorkman was very different.

"It's the first time I've ever played at a Grand Slam without Mark, so it's bound to feel different," said Woodbridge.

(Reuter)