Melbourne: The top-seeded pair of Sara Errani and Robert Vinci defended their Australian Open women`s doubles title by defeating Russian pair Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina here Friday.

Italians Errani and Vinci took two hours and six minutes to record a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win and became the first women`s doubles team to win back-to-back Australian titles since Serena and Venus Williams in 2010, reports a leading agency.

Errani and Vinci dominated early before third-seeded Makarova and Venina applied pressure in the second set.

Four-time Grand Slam winners Errani and Vinci recovered a break before surging ahead late in the third set to close out the match.

Errani and Vinci retain their No.1 ranking with the win.