Huber/ Raymond defeat Dulko/ Pennetta to clinch second straight title – Toray Pan Pacific Open 2011
2011 US Open doubles champions and top seeds here, Americans, Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond, extended their winning streak to eleven matches as they clinched a title win at the 2011 Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday,
1st October after doing away with 2011 Australian Open doubles champions and second seeds, Argentine Gisela Dulko and Italian Flavia Pennetta.
In a clash of the champions, the Americans survived a miserable mid match lapse to secure a 7-6(4), 0-6, 10-6 win in one hour and twenty five minutes.
The Americans won the toss and opened serve in the first set. Comfortably putting themselves on the scoreboard, Huber and Raymond secured an early 2-0 lead. An exchange of break later, the Americans still led the score 3-1. Blasting
past the Argentine Italian duo, the Americans extended their lead to 5-1 all set to serve out the set. However, a marvellous comeback from the second seeds halted the Americans in their track. With back to back breaks, the Australian Open champs reeled off
four straight games as they brought the score to five games each. Winning on their respective serves the two teams forced the first set into a tiebreaker.
Securing a 2-0 lead early on, Dulko and Pennetta looked all set to clinch the tiebreaker win. However, the Americans were far from out as they brought the score to four points each. Reeling off three straight points from there
on, the top seeds clinched a 7-4 tiebreaker win to go one up in the set score.
Down but not out, Dulko and Pennetta bounced back with fiery spirits in the second set as they converted three breakpoint opportunities to their advantage to secure a bagel set win, bringing the set score to even terms.
With the match down to the super tiebreaker, the Americans gave it their all as they fought to keep their winning streak alive. Starting with a 2-0 lead, the Americans desperately fought for a win as the score once levelled at
4-4, at 5-5 and then again at 6-6. Kicking into high gear, the top seeds reeled off four straight points as they clinched a 10-6 win to seal their title win and keep the streak alive.
The Americans had earlier won the title at the 2011 US Open defeating the defending champions Yaroslava Shvedova and Vania King.
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