American wildcards of Carly Gullickson and Travis Parrott stunned defending champions Cara Black and Leander Paes 6-2 6-4 to win the US Open's mixed doubles championship on Thursday.
Gullickson and Parrott dominated the opening set before racing into a 5-2 lead in the second against the second seeds.
The unheralded duo were broken right back but ultimately managed to win the 66-minute match on their next serve, the final point coming on a forehand volley by Gullickson.
Parrott and Gullickson, who had never previously played in a tournament together, won the crown amid swirling winds in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
‘I can't even believe it,’ said the 22-year-old Gullickson. ‘It's my first time on Arthur Ashe. It was a great experience. I'm super excited and happy right now.’
Gullickson and Parrott, who also defeated the number one and three seeds along the way, will receive $150,000 for the win.
Paes, a 36-year-old Indian who already has won four grand slam mixed doubles titles, and Zimbabwean Black will collect $70,000.
‘Our opponents were too good for us today.’ Paes said in a courtside interview. ‘They played excellently well.’
Both Black and Paes will have another shot at winning some silverware at this year's Open.
Paes will contest the men's doubles final on Friday with Lukas Dlouhy against his former partner Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles.
Black and her partner Liezel Huber are still going strong in the women's doubles.
