The Washington Kastles were well-represented in the last days of the Australian Open with both Victoria Azarenka and Leander Paes reaching the doubles finals. Both faced the #1 seeds in their draws and lost tough battles to fall one match short of bringing home their respective titles.
Vika and Maria Kirilenko looked like they were going to cruise to the women's doubles championship after gaining a fast 6-2, 4-1 lead but they let it slip away, falling to Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Friday.
"We were in shock," said Dulko. "At a set and 4-1 down, in the changeover, we were looking at each other and saying, 'C'mon, we've played less than an hour. We cannot finish the match playing less than an hour in the final.'
"We just tried to go for it, not wait for them, and play more aggressive. Until that moment, we couldn't find a good way to win the match."
Dulko and Pennetta earned their first Grand Slam title to solidify their status as the No. 1 ranked team in the world.
Vika and Kirilenko, the No. 12 seeds, enjoyed their first major tournament together by upsetting No. 2 seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik and No. 8 seeds Yung-Jan Chan and Agnieszka Radwanska en route to the final.
Still just 21 years old, Vika has now reached six Grand Slam finals in doubles. She is 0-3 lifetime in women's doubles and 2-1 in mixed doubles Grand Slam finals.
Bob and Mike Bryan denied Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi the career Grand Slam by playing an impeccable match and beating the 'Indian Express' 6-3, 6-4 in the men's doubles championship match on Saturday.
The American twins made 83 percent of their first serves and just six unforced errors. They also saved all four break points that they faced.
"We lost to the best team on the planet who played lights out," said Paes. "I thought they played the perfect match. As far as Mahesh and myself are concerned, it was a great two weeks."
The World's #1 ranked Bryans clinched their fifth Australian Open championship, 10th Grand Slam title and 68th tour title overall.
Playing their first Grand Slam together in nine years, the third-seeded Paes and Bhapathi eliminated three other seeded teams before running into the top-ranked duo in the world.
Following the final, Paes confirmed that he and Bhupathi would be partners at upcoming ATP World Tour events in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami. Bhupathi went a little further, hinting that he and Paes will be seeking revenge at Roland Garros.
"It's very hard for them to play like this every day," said Bhupathi. "Give them credit today. If we play them in the final of the French, things can be different."
Recap of the Kastles at the Australian Open
Venus Williams gutted through an injury, but eventually was forced to withdraw in the third round.
Members of the 2010 Washington Kastles went 19-8 at the 2011 Australian Open, reaching a pair of finals.
Women's Singles (Overall record 5-2)
[8] Victoria Azarenka - Lost in Fourth Round to [9] Na Li
[4] Venus Williams - Lost in Third Round to [30] Andrea Petkovic
Men's Singles Qualifying (2-1)
Bobby Reynolds - Lost in Third Round to [12] Stephane Robert
Women's Doubles (5-2)
[12] Victoria Azarenka (w/Maria Kirilenko) - Women's Doubles Finalists
[11] Rennae Stubbs (w/Francesca Schiavone) - Lost in First Round to Krajicek/Kvitova
Men's Doubles (5-1)
[3] Leander Paes (w/Mahesh Bhupathi) - Men's Doubles Finalists
Mixed Doubles (2-2)
[4] Leander Paes (w/Cara Black) - Lost in Second Round to Chan/Hanley
Rennae Stubbs (w/Chris Guccione) - Lost in Second Round to Shaughnessy/Ram
Vika and Maria Kirilenko looked like they were going to cruise to the women's doubles championship after gaining a fast 6-2, 4-1 lead but they let it slip away, falling to Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Friday.
"We were in shock," said Dulko. "At a set and 4-1 down, in the changeover, we were looking at each other and saying, 'C'mon, we've played less than an hour. We cannot finish the match playing less than an hour in the final.'
"We just tried to go for it, not wait for them, and play more aggressive. Until that moment, we couldn't find a good way to win the match."
Dulko and Pennetta earned their first Grand Slam title to solidify their status as the No. 1 ranked team in the world.
Vika and Kirilenko, the No. 12 seeds, enjoyed their first major tournament together by upsetting No. 2 seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik and No. 8 seeds Yung-Jan Chan and Agnieszka Radwanska en route to the final.
Still just 21 years old, Vika has now reached six Grand Slam finals in doubles. She is 0-3 lifetime in women's doubles and 2-1 in mixed doubles Grand Slam finals.
Bob and Mike Bryan denied Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi the career Grand Slam by playing an impeccable match and beating the 'Indian Express' 6-3, 6-4 in the men's doubles championship match on Saturday.
The American twins made 83 percent of their first serves and just six unforced errors. They also saved all four break points that they faced.
"We lost to the best team on the planet who played lights out," said Paes. "I thought they played the perfect match. As far as Mahesh and myself are concerned, it was a great two weeks."
The World's #1 ranked Bryans clinched their fifth Australian Open championship, 10th Grand Slam title and 68th tour title overall.
Playing their first Grand Slam together in nine years, the third-seeded Paes and Bhapathi eliminated three other seeded teams before running into the top-ranked duo in the world.
Following the final, Paes confirmed that he and Bhupathi would be partners at upcoming ATP World Tour events in Dubai, Indian Wells and Miami. Bhupathi went a little further, hinting that he and Paes will be seeking revenge at Roland Garros.
"It's very hard for them to play like this every day," said Bhupathi. "Give them credit today. If we play them in the final of the French, things can be different."
Recap of the Kastles at the Australian Open
Venus Williams gutted through an injury, but eventually was forced to withdraw in the third round.
Members of the 2010 Washington Kastles went 19-8 at the 2011 Australian Open, reaching a pair of finals.
Women's Singles (Overall record 5-2)
[8] Victoria Azarenka - Lost in Fourth Round to [9] Na Li
[4] Venus Williams - Lost in Third Round to [30] Andrea Petkovic
Men's Singles Qualifying (2-1)
Bobby Reynolds - Lost in Third Round to [12] Stephane Robert
Women's Doubles (5-2)
[12] Victoria Azarenka (w/Maria Kirilenko) - Women's Doubles Finalists
[11] Rennae Stubbs (w/Francesca Schiavone) - Lost in First Round to Krajicek/Kvitova
Men's Doubles (5-1)
[3] Leander Paes (w/Mahesh Bhupathi) - Men's Doubles Finalists
Mixed Doubles (2-2)
[4] Leander Paes (w/Cara Black) - Lost in Second Round to Chan/Hanley
Rennae Stubbs (w/Chris Guccione) - Lost in Second Round to Shaughnessy/Ram
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