Capitals claim two Australian Open crowns

January 31, 2007 - World TeamTennis (WTT)
Sacramento Capitals News Release


LIKHOVTSEVA/NESTOR CLAIM AUSTRALIAN OPEN MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP

After the bitter disappointment of losing the Australian Open mixed doubles final in 2006, Daniel Nestor and Capitals veteran Elena Likhovtseva claimed the crown at Australian Open 2007.

The experienced pair toppled Belarus combination Max Mirnyi and teenager Viktoria Azarenka 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes.

Canadian Nestor, 34, and Russian Likhovtseva, 31, celebrated their maiden mixed doubles Grand Slam victory after three attempts.

Nestor now boasts an unusual doubles treble in Australia, having won the men's doubles gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and 2002 Australian Open and now the mixed.

For Nestor and Likhovtseva, the 2007 victory erases the memories of finals defeats at the 2000 and 2004 US Open.

"It's very nice ... we're very happy. I'm glad that Elena decided not to retire at the end of last year," Nestor said. "We played a tough team that appeared to be winning all their matches pretty easily."

The unseeded pair won the opening set in 34 minutes, consolidating their lead after breaking Mirnyi in the seventh game. Nestor, with two set points up his sleeve, closed out the set with an overhead smash.

Mirnyi was quickly in trouble again, this time in the opening game of the second set, when he lost serve with four break points; and in the fifth when he struggled to hold after being 40-0 up on serve.

It was his teenage partner that kept them in the match with her all-round game and balance at the net and baseline. Although at times she showed her frustration, spraying her shots wide.

Nestor and Likhovtseva, meanwhile, rarely looked ruffled, apart from a minor glitch when the Muscovite dropped her serve after two double faults. It was the pair's only break of serve in the match.

They managed to break in the next game and Nestor followed up, almost assuring victory after conceding just a point in his service game.

Mirnyi kept his and Azarenka's hopes alive, holding on in the ninth game, but their more experienced opponents clinched the trophy when Likhovtseva's wide and kicking serve pushed Mirnyi out of the action, leaving a vacancy in the middle of the court which Nestor exploited.

"We played all last year together and played two finals and didn't succeed. I hope we continue to play all year (this year)," Likhovtseva said.

"I've been on the tour for a long time and I thought about doing something different," she said in reference to retiring. "But then I thought if I am still enjoying it and have good results, I decided to go another year."

--courtesy of australianopen.org

PAVLYUCHENKOVA DEFENDS AUSTRALIAN OPEN JUNIOR SINGLES CROWN

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the world's No. 1 ranked junior and the Capitals rookie in 2006, defended her singles crown at the Australian Open juniors by defeating Madison Brengle of the United States, 7-6(6), 7-6(3).

Photo by Photos by Bill

Pavlyuchenkova won the singles and doubles titles last year in Melbourne to earn her debut junior grand slam trophies. There is no doubt that she feels at home the moment she sets foot on Melbourne Park's Rebound Ace courts but she insists that it is no mystery as to why she plays so well in Australia.

"I think it's not secret, I just practiced and prepared well for this tournament," said Pavlyuchenkova. "It's a little bit of pressure playing here because it's the second year. I won last year and I need to confirm this result. I try not to pay attention to it because I need to play more; I need to grow up a bit. I do get extra confidence from being defending champion, it helps me because opponents go on court and think about it.

"Many years ago when I was nobody I was thinking like that so I know it happens," she continued. "I don't think like that anymore because it doesn't matter where you are ranked. Everybody can beat everybody. But then I do sometimes think: 'come on, you won this last year', and it is extra motivation."

Pavlyuchenkova already knew what it felt like to win a junior Australian Open - she beat Caroline Wozniacki in last year's final - but appeared to enjoy the experience a lot more the second time around. She and Brengle fought a gritty and high quality battle on the Margaret Court Arena, one which suggests they will meet again in the latter stages of women's events in the future.

"She played really well today. It was a tough match," said Pavlyuchenkova. "I was holding this trophy for a second time. It's really great for me. I mean, yeah, it's awesome. I thought it was going to be difficult for me to win this tournament again because was a little bit of pressure on me and the juniors so good."

Prior to the juniors matches, the 15-year-old Pavlyuchenkova attempted to qualify for the women's main draw, but fell in the third round.

--courtesy of ITF Juniors website



World TeamTennis Stories from January 31, 2007


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