Russian US Open singles winner
Svetlana Kuznetsova was denied a double Sunday when she teamed with countrywoman
Elena Likhovtseva as the No. 2 seeds in the US Open women's doubles final, losing to the top-seeded team of
Virginia Ruano Pascual and
Paola Suarez 6-4, 7-5. It was the fifth title of the year for Ruano Pascual/Suarez.
It was also an amazing third US Open in a row for the Spanish/Argentine pair, and their third slam win of the year. The final was a repeat of the Australian Open and Roland Garros championship matches this year. Before losing in the semifinals at Wimbledon, Ruano Pascual and Suarez had reached the doubles final in nine consecutive slam events.
"When we started this tournament we said, 'OK, we have to win six matches to be in the final again,'" Suarez said. "I didn't believe we could be in the final again but we did it. It's amazing."
With five titles the pair trail only the Russian/American tandem of
Nadia Petrova and
Meghann Shaughnessy, who have six in 2004. It's the first time in the Open Era that a pair have won three straight women's doubles titles at the US Open.
