COLCHESTER-BORN Henry Patten claimed his second grand slam doubles title alongside Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara in a late-night epic at the Australian Open.

The pair did not walk out on Rod Laver Arena until 10.30pm local time after a lengthy women's singles final and it took until beyond midnight for the first set of their final against Italian third seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori to conclude.

They were edged out in a 34-point tie-break after having 10 set points but put it behind them to clinch a 6-7 (16) 7-6 (5) 6-3 victory just before 1.45am.

It cements Patten and Heliovaara as one of the very best pairs in the world after winning their maiden slam title at Wimbledon last summer.

"Bloody hell," said Patten after collecting the trophy. "What an evening. Firstly I want to thank everybody who stayed out here and watched us play. You guys are a little bit crazy but I love you for it.

"What an amazing match. There shouldn't really have been a loser. Now for Harri, what a journey we've been on. It's really special to share the court with you, I wouldn't like to do it with anyone else and let's keep going."

There was drama in the tenth game of the opening set when, with Bolelli serving for it, Patten and Heliovaara successfully challenged a Vavassori volley where the Italian had struck the ball by leaning over the net.

That gave the British-Finnish pair a break back point and they converted, but they could not take any of three set points two games later, and a titanic tie-break then went the way of the Italians.

But Patten and Heliovaara held their nerve to hit back in a second-set tie-break and a break of the Bolelli serve to start the decider proved decisive, with Patten clinching victory with an ace after three hours and four minutes.