AceTennisGrrrl
Jun 9th, 2006, 10:11 PM
Eighth seeded Katarina Srebotnik and Nenad Zimonjic claimed the 2006 Roland Garros mixed doubles crown late Friday, defeating No7 seeds Elena Likhovtseva and Daniel Nestor 6-3 6-4.
Srebotnik, from Slovakia, and Zimonjic, from Serbia, recovered from a 2-4 deficit in the second set to reel off four straight games and take the title in 72 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
It is the third Grand Slam mixed doubles crown for the 25-year-old Srebotnik (she won the title here in 1999 with Piet Norval, and the 2003 US Open with Bob Bryan) and the first mixed Slam title for 30-year-old Zimonjic. The duo reached the final of the US Open together last year.
During the final on Friday, Likhovtseva received medical attention on court at 3-4 in the first set. She dropped her serve in the next game (to trail 3-5) before Zimonjic won his serve to love to snatch the opener in 29 minutes.
Srebotnik is coming off her best season to date, highlighted by two singles and four doubles titles in 2005. She won the singles and doubles titles in both Auckland and Stockholm, making her the only player last season to sweep both titles at more than one tournament.
Similarly, Zimonjic compiled his best career season in doubles last year - with two ATP titles in five finals with Leander Paes. The duo compiled a 29-29 match record and finished No6 in the ATP Doubles Race.
Is it really that difficult? :rolleyes: Kata :hug:
Srebotnik, from Slovakia, and Zimonjic, from Serbia, recovered from a 2-4 deficit in the second set to reel off four straight games and take the title in 72 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
It is the third Grand Slam mixed doubles crown for the 25-year-old Srebotnik (she won the title here in 1999 with Piet Norval, and the 2003 US Open with Bob Bryan) and the first mixed Slam title for 30-year-old Zimonjic. The duo reached the final of the US Open together last year.
During the final on Friday, Likhovtseva received medical attention on court at 3-4 in the first set. She dropped her serve in the next game (to trail 3-5) before Zimonjic won his serve to love to snatch the opener in 29 minutes.
Srebotnik is coming off her best season to date, highlighted by two singles and four doubles titles in 2005. She won the singles and doubles titles in both Auckland and Stockholm, making her the only player last season to sweep both titles at more than one tournament.
Similarly, Zimonjic compiled his best career season in doubles last year - with two ATP titles in five finals with Leander Paes. The duo compiled a 29-29 match record and finished No6 in the ATP Doubles Race.
Is it really that difficult? :rolleyes: Kata :hug: