Chakvetadze / Azarenka Earn Spot in Acura Classic Doubles Final

A little more than an hour after losing her semifinal singles match, Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze came back to team with Victoria Azarenka of Belarus for an exciting 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 semifinal doubles victory over Ai Sugiyama of Japan and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia.

Chakvetadze and Azarenka advance to Sunday’s Acura Classic doubles final.

After Chakvetadze and Azarenka handily won the first set in 27 minutes, Sugiyama and Srebotnik raced out to a 5-1 second set lead. Azarenka and Chakvetadze won the next two games to close the lead to 5-3.

In the ninth game, Srebotnik served and fell behind 0-40. Azarenka and Chakvetadze were within one point of getting back on serve, but Srebotnik and Sugiyama fought off three break points and proceeded to hold serve to send the match into a Match Tiebreak.

With the faithful fans that remained in the stands cheering loudly, the Match Tiebreak began with Azarenka and Chakvetadze taking a 5-0 lead when Sugiyama netted a forehand half-volley.

On the next point, Sugiyama’s backhand was called long, but she challenged the call. As the players watched the courtside monitor, the smile on Azarenka’s face told the story. The ball was indeed out and the original call stood to increase their lead to 6-0.

Sugiyama and Srebotnik came back to win six out of next eight points to make the score 8-6 in Azarenka and Chakvetadze’s favor.

On the next point, Srebotnik hit a backhand cross court volley in the net to give Azarenka and Chakvetadze match point.

The match ended on a spirited rally with several great saves. Sugiyama’s backhand finally fell in the net.

• Chakvetadze is ranked 78 in the world in doubles.
• Chakvetadze has represented Russia in Fed Cup play
• Azarenka is ranked 86 in the world in doubles.
• Azarenka has represented Belarus in Fed Cup play.
• Azarenka won her only tour doubles title in 2006 in Tashkent.
• Chakvetadze / Azarenka reached the second round at Wimbledon this year.
• This is the fifth tournament of the year Chakvetadze / Azarenka have played together.
• Chakvetadze / Azarenka will play the winner of the second doubles semifinal between Cara Black/Liezel Huber and Yung-Jan Chan/Chia-Jung Chuang.
• Srebotnik is ranked fifth in the world in doubles.
• Srebotnik has won 15 career tour doubles titles including two this year.
• Sugiyama is ranked seventh in the world in doubles.
• Sugiyama has won 33 career tour doubles titles.
• Sugiyama won the 2003 Acura Classic doubles title with Kim Clijsters.

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