Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka grab Women’s Doubles title – French Open 2011
Unseeded Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of Czech Republic downed seventh seeds Sania Mirza of India and Elena Vesnina of Russia in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 in the final to lift the women’s doubles title of French Open at Roland
Garros in Paris on Friday. The Czech team took an hour and 21 minutes to beat their opponents.
Hlavackova and Hradecka drew first blood as they broke Mirza and Vesnina in the opening game of the first set. The Indo-Russian team was quick to respond as they broke back in the fourth game to level the score at 2-2. However,
Mirza and Vesnina were broken again in the seventh game and this time they failed to break back, losing the set 4-6.
Hlavackova and Hradecka hit two aces and had a satisfactory first serve percentage, delivering 52 percent of the first serves and winning 88 percent of the points on them. In comparison, the Indian/Russian pair kept their first
serve percentage at 59 percent and won 64 percent of the points on them. Both pairs were erratic with their second serves as the Czech team committed six double faults and their opponents hit four double faults in the first set. Hlavackova and Hradecka returned
well as they converted 55 percent of the service returns into points in the opening set. The Czech team saved two of the three break points they faced and converted two of the seven break points in the first set.
Hlavackova and Hradecka needed a single break of serve in the second set to win it 6-3. The Czech team improved their first serve percentage as they fired 72 percent of the first serves, winning 67 percent of the points on them.
On the other hand, Mirza and Vesnina served poorly, hitting just 48 percent of the first serves and converting a meagre 27 percent of them into points in the second set.
The Czech team did not drop a single set on the road to their title win. Before the French Open, Hlavackova and Hradecka had not reached even the quarterfinals of any grand slam.
Talking to the journalists after the match, Mirza said, "In the finals of a Grand Slam, it's not just about tennis. It's about how you hold your nerves. They did a better job than us."
The Indian added, "They came out firing from the first point. They also had no pressure. People expected that we're going to win because they were unseeded but they are very good players. Hradecka was really carrying the team together.
She was hitting winners from basically anywhere in the court."
Sania Mirza became the first Indian to reach the women’s doubles final at any grand slam. Although, she had won the mixed doubles title at Australian Open partnering compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in 2009.
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