Zimbabwe: Black, Huber Lift German Open
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The Herald (Harare)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Collin Matiza
Harare
CARA Black and Liezel Huber remained as the undisputed world women's tennis doubles champions when they lifted the German Open title in Berlin on Sunday.
Zimbabwe's Black and her American partner Huber tightened their grip at the top of the world women's doubles rankings.
They rallied to beat Spaniards Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 3-6, 6-2, 10-2 in the final of the US$1,34 million red clay court tournament.
Black and Huber collected a cheque for US$59 000 for their achievements.
The German Open doubles title was Black and Huber's 15th WTA Tour title together, and eighth at the Tier I level or higher (three majors, one Tour Championships and four Tier Is).
It was also their third doubles title of the year, having already won Tier II trophies in Antwerp and Dubai and they are now firmly sitting at the top of the world rankings where they are jointly ranked as number ones with 5 040 points each.
It was by no means easy but the world's number one doubles team claimed its third doubles title of the year at the German Open, according to reports from Berlin.
Although several seeded teams fell earlier than expected, most notably number three seeds Chan Yung-Jan and Chuang Chia-Jung and number seven team Yan Zi and Zheng Jie, all of China, most of the favourites reached their projected quarter-final spots.
"We got it together at the end and we're happy about winning the title here in Berlin," Huber said after Sunday's final.
"It was an early match for us today -- we got up before 7am to get ready for it. We give credit to our opponents -- Nuria and Maria are a great team and fought really well -- especially in the first set -- but we made it through the final set to win our third title of the year."
"It does of course feel good to win our third title after Antwerp and Dubai this year," Black added. "Let's hope we can keep it up for a few more titles. Nuria and Maria played well and it shows there are some really good teams out there." The US$59 000 that Black and Huber pocketed for winning in Berlin on Sunday has seen them amassing a total of US$210 644 as a team on the road this year.
As an individual Black, who is set to represent Zimbabwe in the women's singles at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in August, has made a total of US$218 784 this year (US$1 540 in the singles, US$210 644 in the doubles with Huber and US$6 596 in the mixed doubles).
The 29-year-old Zimbabwean is now placed 20th in the WTA Tour Prize Money List while her partner Huber is in 22nd place with a total of US$213 942 (US$210 644 in the doubles with Black and US$3 298 in the mixed doubles).
Black and Huber are now in Rome, Italy, for the Italian Open, which started yesterday.
Another top Zimbabwean player Kevin Ullyett is also currently in Europe where he is preparing for the French Open with his Swedish partner Jonas Bjorkman. Ullyett and Bjorkman last week managed to reach the semi-finals of the men's Italian Open where they lost 6-2, 6-1 in just 52 minutes to the eventual tournament winners Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States.
The Zimbabwean and his Swedish partner are now in Hamburg, Germany, for the Hamburg Masters Series, which got underway yesterday.
Relevant Links
Ullyett and Bjorkman, who are titleless this season, are seeded seventh in Hamburg and have received a first-round bye.
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