Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain shocked World No 1 pair of Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber of USA in a thrilling super tie-break 7-6 (7-0), 5-7, 10-7 to clinch the doubles title at the Sony Ericsson championship at the Khalifa Tennis Complex, yesterday.
The Spanish duo thus dashed the hat-trick plans of Black and Huber, who had won the event in 2007 and last year. The last pair to score at least three titles in a row were 10-time winner Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver (1986-89).
Vives and Sanchez walked away with a purse of $375,000, while Black and Huber pocketed $187,000 for their efforts.“We were waiting for this moment.
We had worked hard all through the season and don’t have words to express how pleased we are with the triumph,”said an overjoyed Sanchez.
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