Leach, Pugh Return in Doubles Final

They lost last year in the Wimbledon doubles final, but they’re back for another try.

The top-seeded team of Rick Leach of Laguna Beach and Jim Pugh of Rancho Palos Verdes will meet South Africans Pieter Aldrich and Danie Visser in the final today.

Leach and Pugh, two-time Australian Open doubles champions, had a shot at a third Grand Slam title here last year but lost to John Fitzgerald and Anders Jarryd.

“I think we learned a lot after last year,” Leach said. “We were up a set and a break, and we kind of got a little tight. We had never been in that situation before.

“Now, we’re more relaxed,” he said. “We’re not so overwhelmed by the whole occasion. If we win, we’re going to go for it, because we’re not going out there to not lose.”

Leach will see a familiar face across the net in the mixed doubles semifinals--Pugh. Leach and Zina Garrison will play Pugh and Jana Novotna.