Yan Zi and Zheng Jie delivered China's first Wimbledon title when they defeated Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarez in the women's doubles final.

The Chinese pair needed seven match points as they registered a hard-working 6-3 3-6 6-2 success against vastly more experienced opponents.

It was Yan who finally struck the telling blow - a forehand volley - to complete the Chinese comeback after the first set had gone their way only for a faltering second to favour the Spanish-Argentinian pair.

In a tough third set, Zi and Jie recovered from a break down to take their second Grand Slam title of the year - after the Australian Open in January.

Sunday's victory took them two hours and eight minutes - and they looked in trouble when Suarez and Ruano Pascual broke to take a 1-0 lead and then held a 40-0 advantage in the second game of the third set.

Zi and Jie will share £205,280 between them.

Yan and Zheng once again proved the tenacity and stamina which had served them so well when they twice won the final set 3-0 in earlier rounds.

Their final opponents, winners of eight previous Grand Slam titles, were unseeded only because of recent inactivity while Suarez has been troubled by hip and calf injuries.

The Chinese won the opening set in 40 minutes after an early break of the Ruano Pascual serve.

In the second, both Yan and Zheng lost their serves but they managed to draw on extra reserves in the decider.