For Hingis, who achieved a Grand Slam of women's doubles crowns last year, it was a third straight win in this tournament having teamed up with Zvereva in 1997 and Mirjana Lucic last year.

This time it was Russian pin-up Kournikova who provided the Swiss teenager with support to secure the perfect preparation for Saturday's singles final against Amelia Mauresmo.

Hingis, who described herself and Kournikova as the Spice Girls of tennis earlier this week, won a Grand Slam of doubles titles last year and a fifth doubles title in a row Friday.

The winners embraced mid-court following the final point

She teamed with Mirjana Lucic to win the Australian Open and added the French, US and Wimbledon titles with Jana Novotna.

Zvereva, who said she would be back next season, "unless I retire," congratulated Kournikova on her breakthrough Slam victory.

"That's her first Grand Slam and I'm sure she's going to have more to come," Zvereva said.

Hingis said she was likely to play with Novotna again in the future.

The match took place under cover at Melbourne Park because of morning rain.

Davenport and Zvereva took a 5-3 lead in the first set by breaking Kournikova's suspect service.

But Hingis and Kournikova won the next four games, breaking both of their rivals in the process.

All four players lost a service game in the second set and Hingis and Kournikova finished it off with their third break off Zvereva in the set. A sharp return from Kournikova set up Hingis for a volley at the net.