It will be a repeat of the 2009 US Open women’s doubles final at Australian Open 2010, as both of the top seeded teams of Cara Black/Liezel Huber and Serena Williams/Venus Williams posted semi-final wins on Thursday. The Williams sisters, the second seeds, overcame American Lisa Raymond and Australian Rennae Stubbs 6-3 7-6(6).
The Williams sisters survived a fast-finishing Raymond/Stubbs duo, who forced the No. 2 seeds to a second set tie-break. The American siblings won the first set as they settled in the gusty conditions quicker than the American/Australian pair. The city end of the court was particularly hard to serve at because of a steady wind, and Stubbs was the first to falter, giving away a break and eventually the first set 6-3.
At one point in the second set, Raymond appeared to have the ball on a string with a series of shots that single-handedly confused and dismantled the Williams’ game, finishing with a volley that split them in two. With Stubbs also playing well, the pair held set points late in the set. The No.6 seeds failed to convert though, and the Williams sisters won the second set in a tie break 8-6, earning them the right to defend their Melbourne Park 2009 doubles title.
For Serena, it is the second year in a row she has made it through to the singles and doubles final at the Australian Open, and she will use the doubles final to get focused for another tilt at the individual crown. “I think [doubles] helped me. You know, I get a lot of extra practice, so ... I think I spent a lot of time on the court. I like being out there,” Serena said.
- Article courtesy of Official Australian Open website
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