Ruano Pascual/Suárez

joz said:

And who says tennis isn't mental... Since losing the top spot in the rankings this team has had two early exits in a row... Most recently to Dokic/Morariu... I guess Virginia never will get to number one... Too bad!
If this continues I would not be suprised to see these two smiling faces go there separate ways after the year-end finals. Just a hunch....

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They share a coach and they're such good friends that I really can't ever imagine them splitting. They have been good friends and a steady doubles partnership since before they were famous. In fact Vivi has only played 9 tournaments in the last 3 years with a different partner.

The loss last week wasn't so bad, Rennae has been playing some great doubles this year despite her terrible draws; she looks really determined to do well, (that was what impressed me most in her match with Corina vs. the Williams sisters at Wimbledon), but just hasn't been able to pull off the big wins until then. I found the loss this week, however, more than surprising. I've seen both Corina and Jelena playing doubles, (with other partners), live this year and, (unless something has drastically changed in the last few months), they should not have been able to beat Vivi and Paola.

I guess they just need some time to regroup after losing the top spot, (although I also have a theory that they were beginning to feel the pressure a bit with having to defend so many points to stay at the top, hence they were unable to pull out all those tight three set matches - they definately looked far more nervous at this years Wimbledon final than they did last year when they faced the Williams sisters and played a great match). It is a shame Vivi ever making #1 is looking unlikely though. Hopefully next year when they have less points to defend they'll be able to fight back to the top. Whatever, I really can't see them going their seperate ways.

I know even good friends do split, but I still would honestly be really surprised if they do. Besides, it's not as if they've really had a bad year. They have had a couple of bad results these past few weeks, but all-in-all though they haven't won a GS they've been in the finals of all three and only lost narrowly, (Wimbledon aside), to other top teams.
They still seem perfectly happy together, (or did at RG and Wimbledon anyway), and attend all of each other matches, (cheering loudly! ), unlike the year Lisa and Rennae split, when they were just not at all happy with one another or in general, (though they also seem to be good friends again now they're not playing together), so it would surprise me if they were to split this year, (I would say or ever, but that's a hell of a long tme, so I'll reserve my judgement on that for the time being!)