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India’s Australian Open champions returned home on Monday to a frenzied reception, promising the country a bright tennis future. It was India’s most successful Grand Slam ever with two titles from three finals.

India unearthed a new champion in Yuki Bhambri, who won the Boys title, while veteran Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza became the first Indian pair to win a mixed doubles title.

Bhupathi, who now has a whopping 11 Grand Slam titles to his name, finished runner-up in the men’s doubles. India could not have asked for more.

Sania said Monday that winning the Australian Open mixed doubles with Bhupathi was the best way she could make a comeback to the international circuit.

While Yuki returned home as a star amid a tumultuous reception that clearly left the junior champion pleasantly surprised, Bhupathi and Sania received a rousing welcome when they landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

Yuki looked lost when he touched down at the Indira Gandhi International airport with coach Aditya Sachdeva in the morning. He could not believe he would get a reception usually reserved only for cricketers.

An electrifying ambience greeted him outside with loud music and hordes of media people running over each other to have the first byte.

"I never expected such a reception, so many people turning out to receive me is overwhelming. The feeling has finally begun to sink in," a starry-eyed Yuki said.

Sania said Indian tennis is looking up and the title would motivate her to win more.

"It is very special to win your first Grand Slam. After the injury it is a great way to come back. I am just living in the moment for now," said Sania.

For Bhupathi it was his 11th Grand Slam and seventh mixed doubles title. "We played very well. We are excited and happy to come home for some rest. Yes, definitely we will continue this pair," he said.

The 34-year-old Bhupathi also finished runners-up in the men’s doubles with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. They lost to American twins Bob and Mike Bryan.

Sania, who was making a comeback from a wrist injury, is the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title. The injury forced the 22-year-old Hyderabadi out of international circuit for most part of 2008 and also pushed her out of the top-100 in the singles ranking.

The Australian Open Mixed Double’s crown is now officially in the Indian kitty. Melbourne has been conquered and after the magical pair of Leander Paes & Mahesh Bhupathi, it isthe first time that an Indian duo has won a Grand Slam title. Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi have won the Australian Open in the mixed doubles category.

This 22-year-old Indian girl fought her way out of injury and disappointment to complement her 10-time Grand slam winning partner Mahesh Bhupathi to win at Melbourne Park. There is more glory as Sania is now the first Indian woman to lay claim to a Grand slam title.

The duo stepped onto the Rod Laver arena staring at history in the making. A mentor and his favourite disciple with just one more hurdle to go. Andy Ram and Nathalie Dechy were all set to give the Indian duo a tough fight.

The Indian pair dominated from the start, breaking their opponents in the first game itself.

Serve for serve, forehand after powerful forehand and clever volleys, Mirza and Bhupathi just did not let up the steam.

With some smart play at the nets, their synchronisation as a team sealed the first set in 28 minutes.

Their opponents did not recover in the second set. With feet firmly on ground and eyes firmly on the target, Mahesh & Sania continued into the second, giving away just a single game.

Within minutes the 6-3, 6-1 victory in the mixed doubles final of the 2009 Australian Open was signed, sealed and taken away forever by the enterprising Indian duo.

Sania  was understandably ecstatic. "After being out for most of last year, not playing for almost six months, and then winning a Grand Slam title in virtually my first tournament back, is just great," she said. "A Slam is a Slam — singles, doubles or mixed doubles, and winning on these big stages is what I had dreamt of as a child. Winning with Mahesh, he’s a friend and fellow Indian, makes it even more special. Last time, we fell one short, this time we did it!"

Bhupathi said, "This whole weekend has been an emotional roller-coaster. The last thing you want to do after a match like yesterday is show-up on the court again today. There was some of that disappointment still there in me, but you have to get up to the job. Fortunately for me Sania was playing great and she got us through the early part and then I served great and when we’re playing like that it’s tough to beat us. It’s been a great two weeks for me, but if I had to return home without a title, it would’ve hurt. This obviously makes up for Saturday’s loss in the men’s doubles final."