Top Seeds Avoid First-Round Doubles Loss

Both fans and players at the Acura Classic are still getting used to the new rules for doubles matches on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

In an entertaining first-round match, top-seed Cara Black of Zimbabwe and American Liezel Huber came back after losing the first set to defeat Patty Schnyder of Switzerland and Corina Morariu of the United States, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6.

The match was played with the new rules which use No-Ad scoring during the first two sets and a Match Tiebreak in lieu of a third set.

After dropping the first set, Black and Huber found themselves tied at 4-4 in the second set and only two games from defeat.

On the first point of the ninth game, Schnyder hit a second serve that smacked Morariu, who was at the net, in the back of the head. Even though she was momentarily stunned, the American was not injured and continued to play.

Down 15-40, Morariu and Schnyder won the next two points to take the score to 40-40. With No-Ad scoring in effect, Huber chose to receive and Schnyder lost her serve as she double faulted.

Huber then served out a love game to win the second set and force a Match Tiebreak, the first one to be played on Stadium Court in the history of the Acura Classic.

At the start of the Match Tiebreak, Schnyder questioned umpire Yvette Kahn if Huber was permitted to serve before Black in the tiebreak before realizing that a Match Tiebreak was being played instead of a regular tiebreak.

In the Match Tiebreak which featured spectacular shot making, Black and Huber took a 9-6 lead when Huber poached at the net and hit a winning forehand volley at Schnyder’s feet.

On match point, Black capped the comeback victory with a perfectly placed forehand cross court lob for a winner.

• Black, who hails from Zimbabwe, is the first African woman to be ranked #1 in doubles.
• Black has 32 career doubles titles.
• Black won Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2007 with partner Liezel Huber.
• Black is a three-time Acura Classic doubles champion.
• Huber, who was born in South Africa, is a U.S. citizen.
• Huber reached her career high doubles ranking of #4 in 2005.
• Huber has won 19 career doubles titles.
• Morariu was awarded the first Acura Classic Comeback Player Award in 2002 which was named in her honor.
• Morariu won the Acura Classic doubles title with Lindsay Davenport in 1999.
• Morariu received #1 doubles ranking in 2000 after winning 4 titles with 3 different partners.
• Morariu’s parents and brother are all doctors.
• Schnyder has won 10 career singles titles.
• Schnyder finished in the top 10 in singles in 2005 by reaching the quarterfinals or better in 15 consecutive events.
• Schnyder has represented Switzerland in Fed Cup play.

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