He combined with Ellis Ferreira to beat Andrew Kratzmann and Wayne Black in a grueling, five-set final Saturday.

Leach, who teamed with Jim Pugh to win successive doubles titles Down Under in 1988-89, claimed his fifth Grand Slam doubles title while Ferreira collected his first in the 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 18-16 triumph.

The victory resulted from Leach's decision to heed the advice of his wife, Christi.

"Last December, I talked to my wife about quitting tennis," he said. "I'm glad she talked me out of it. I was ready to call it quits, I thought I'd achieved everything I could in a career but she told me I'd be crazy to retire right now."

Leach, who won the first two doubles titles ever contested at Melbourne Park, said he was more emotional Saturday than ever because the victory was so unexpected.

"When you're 35 and you're probably not playing your best tennis, you're not supposed to win Grand Slams," he said. "It was an honor to win Wimbledon and be part of a winning Davis Cup team. This rates up there.

The ability to endure long matches must have been passed down from Leach's father, Dick.

He and Dick Dell share the record for the most games played in a doubles set. They teamed up in 1967 to defeat Len Schloss and Tom Mozur 3-6, 49-47, 22-20 in Newport, R. I.

"He taught me everything I know," said the younger Leach. "It must be in the genes."

Leach and his South African partner survived two break points at 9-9, then all the pressure was on Kratzmann of Australia and Black of Zimbabwe, both playing in their first Grand Slam final.

Kratzmann survived a match point to level at 13-13, and staved off two more to level again at 15-15.

The fifth set went on serve for 121 minutes until Kratzmann's luck ran out at 17-16, when he let a 40-15 advantage slip and then skewed a backhand wide on the fourth match point.