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2012 US Open Women's Doubles champs Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci get ready to return.
© Philip Hall/USTA
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by Richard Osborn
Sunday, September 9, 2012
It’s been quite a US Open for the Italian duo of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. Not only did both players enjoy career-best Slam results in singles (Errani defeated Vinci in an all-Italian quarterfinal), the pair also teamed up to win their second major doubles title of the year, defeating the powerful Czech tandem of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-2.
It was a contrast in styles: Errani/Vinci, who became the first all-Italian duo to win the US Open, prefer to serve-and-volley, lob and mix it up with a variety of pace and spin. Hlavackova/Hradecka, runners-up to the Williams sisters at both Wimbledon and the Olympics, are tall, heavy-serving ballstrikers. Errani/Vinci, the No. 2 seeds, converted all three of their break-point opportunities in taking the first set, while the No. 3-seeded Hlavackova/Hradecka capitalized on just two of seven chances, while registering four double faults in the stanza.
The rivals had already faced off on four occasions in 2012, Hlavackova/Hradecka winning three of the four contests. But there was no doubt that Sunday belonged to the Italians. After scoring a break at 1-1 in the second set, they held their serve the rest of the way and cruised to victory in 1 hour, 16 minutes. They celebrated with a colorful on-court dance in front of their coaches.
"They’re very consistent. They played great," said Hlavackova, who was blanked 6-0, 6-0 by Serena Williams in the fourth round of the singles event. "We didn’t have the best day today. Hopefully, another day we’re going to get them back."
Errani and Vinci – who are best friends - improved to 52-8 on the year. When the new WTA rankings are published on Monday, they will be ranked Nos. 1-2 in the world, respectively.
"We are so friendly," said Vinci on why they’ve been so successful together. "We play unbelievable here. This is our second Slam title, and we’re so happy."