Thursday, May 7, 2009

Doubles upsets in Rome

Number 1 seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber were defeated in the quarterfinals in Rome today by 5th seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama, 6-4, 6-1. Hantuchova and Sugiyama, you will recall, defeated Black and Huber in what is still, for me, the most exciting match of the year--singles or doubles--in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Black and Huber are looking a bit vulnerable these days.

The number 2 seeds also went out in today's quarterfinals. The unseeded team of Ipek Senoglu and Yaroslava Shvedova defeated Kveta Peschke and Lisa Raymond, 6-2, 6-4.

4th-seeded Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez received a walkover from Nadia Petrova and Dinara Safina because Safina's right ankle is injured. Had the walkover not occurred, Safina and Martinez Sanchez would have played each other twice today.

5 comments:

David said...

I agree about most exciting match of the year, Diane. That third set tiebreak was something to remember, that's for sure

Anonymous said...

Twisted ankle? Does that augur well for Venus in today's semi? Methinks, however that Dinara will want revenge against Sveta for last week's defeat.

Mel

Diane said...

Safina said that the ankle has gotten worse with each match, but--watching her--she seems okay.

Anonymous said...

I was right. Safina in 3.

Mel

Diane said...

Yes, I told someone last night that I thought Kuzzy and Dinara would be in the final. No surprise here.