Yan/Zheng Win Wimbledon Doubles Title
Posted on July 10, 2006LONDON, UK -- In just their second appearance here, Yan Zi and Zheng Jie collected their second Grand Slam doubles title and became the first Chinese Wimbledon champions in tennis history by defeating Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarez 63 36 62 on Sunday.
"We are very happy and proud to be the first Chinese doubles champions at Wimbledon," Zheng said. "It has been a very good year for us and we hope to keep winning more titles in the future."
The No.4-seeded tandem claimed the first set in 38 minutes after breaking their opponents in the fourth game. While Ruano Pascual and Suarez were unable to convert two break chances in the first set, they took advantage of two breaks in the second, to go up 2-1 and 4-2, and pave the way for a third set. But the Chinese duo quickly regained control in the decider, breaking the eight-time Grand Slam champions on three occasions to race to a 5-1 lead. Yan and Zheng then failed to close out the victory on their own serve but iced it in the ensuing game on their fourth match point.
After winning the Australian Open earlier this year, Yan and Zheng showed that their first Grand Slam triumph wasn't a fluke. Since mid-clay court season, the pair has won 21 of 22 matches and captured four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour events. The duo has pulled off impressive victories en route to this fortnight's final. After sending off Martina Navratilova and Liezel Huber with a third set bagel in the quarters, they overthrew 2004 Wimbledon champions Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs in the semis to set up a fourth career meeting with Ruano Pascual and Suarez.
The Spanish-Argentine duo was gunning for a doubles career Grand Slam here. Holding four Roland Garros titles, three US Open crowns and one Australian Open trophy, the tandem was eager to add more major hardware to its collection. After making the finals here in 2002 and 2003, the team was hoping to complete the quest for a first Wimbledon trophy this time. But Yan and Zheng outscored their opposition 32-19 in the winners column to keep them from becoming the sixth team to complete the career doubles Grand Slam.
-- WTA
"We are very happy and proud to be the first Chinese doubles champions at Wimbledon," Zheng said. "It has been a very good year for us and we hope to keep winning more titles in the future."
The No.4-seeded tandem claimed the first set in 38 minutes after breaking their opponents in the fourth game. While Ruano Pascual and Suarez were unable to convert two break chances in the first set, they took advantage of two breaks in the second, to go up 2-1 and 4-2, and pave the way for a third set. But the Chinese duo quickly regained control in the decider, breaking the eight-time Grand Slam champions on three occasions to race to a 5-1 lead. Yan and Zheng then failed to close out the victory on their own serve but iced it in the ensuing game on their fourth match point.
After winning the Australian Open earlier this year, Yan and Zheng showed that their first Grand Slam triumph wasn't a fluke. Since mid-clay court season, the pair has won 21 of 22 matches and captured four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour events. The duo has pulled off impressive victories en route to this fortnight's final. After sending off Martina Navratilova and Liezel Huber with a third set bagel in the quarters, they overthrew 2004 Wimbledon champions Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs in the semis to set up a fourth career meeting with Ruano Pascual and Suarez.
The Spanish-Argentine duo was gunning for a doubles career Grand Slam here. Holding four Roland Garros titles, three US Open crowns and one Australian Open trophy, the tandem was eager to add more major hardware to its collection. After making the finals here in 2002 and 2003, the team was hoping to complete the quest for a first Wimbledon trophy this time. But Yan and Zheng outscored their opposition 32-19 in the winners column to keep them from becoming the sixth team to complete the career doubles Grand Slam.
-- WTA