Raymond/Stosur Win French Open Womens Doubles
Posted on June 12, 2006American Lisa Raymond completed a career Grand Slam Sunday in Paris, capturing the French Open title with partner Sam Stosur after breezing through a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 5 seeds Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama for their tour-leading sixth title of the year.
"Playing these guys, we've struggled with them in the past, so for us to go out there and beat them as decisively as we did feels good," Raymond said. "Especially to do it in a Grand Slam final."
The win avenged a loss to the pair in their only previous meeting last year in Zurich.
"We played very well," Stosur said. "We both served well. It was hard for them to get a sniff on either of our serves. Lisa did a great job serving it out."
Raymond and Stosur have made the final at all three Slams they've participated in since first teaming last year, with a 2-1 record in Slam finals.
"To come back and get this one and after the disappointment at the Aussie, we certainly didn't want that to happen again," Stosur said. "To go out there and win but also to win so comfortably on the scoreboard is a great feeling."
Raymond is the 13th woman in the Open Era to complete the career doubles Slam, joining Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Kathy Jordan, Anne Smith, Pam Shriver, Jana Novotna, Helena Sukova, Gigi Fernandez, Natasha Zvereva, Martina Hingis and the Williams sisters.
"To finally get the French Open, get that monkey off my back, it feels great," Raymond said. "The first thing I said to Sam when we won was, 'Thank you for finally getting me this title.' I think I have like three or four doubles and two mixed finals here, trophies, that I don't even want to look at. To finally be able to win here, to complete the Slam, that's just an unbelievable feeling."
"Playing these guys, we've struggled with them in the past, so for us to go out there and beat them as decisively as we did feels good," Raymond said. "Especially to do it in a Grand Slam final."
The win avenged a loss to the pair in their only previous meeting last year in Zurich.
"We played very well," Stosur said. "We both served well. It was hard for them to get a sniff on either of our serves. Lisa did a great job serving it out."
Raymond and Stosur have made the final at all three Slams they've participated in since first teaming last year, with a 2-1 record in Slam finals.
"To come back and get this one and after the disappointment at the Aussie, we certainly didn't want that to happen again," Stosur said. "To go out there and win but also to win so comfortably on the scoreboard is a great feeling."
Raymond is the 13th woman in the Open Era to complete the career doubles Slam, joining Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Kathy Jordan, Anne Smith, Pam Shriver, Jana Novotna, Helena Sukova, Gigi Fernandez, Natasha Zvereva, Martina Hingis and the Williams sisters.
"To finally get the French Open, get that monkey off my back, it feels great," Raymond said. "The first thing I said to Sam when we won was, 'Thank you for finally getting me this title.' I think I have like three or four doubles and two mixed finals here, trophies, that I don't even want to look at. To finally be able to win here, to complete the Slam, that's just an unbelievable feeling."