Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual defeated Victoria Azarenka and Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-1 to win their second consecutive French Open women's doubles title!

Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascual had won their first Grand Slam together a year ago on Rpland Garros. This year, on their way to the semifinals they lost only one set, where they beat top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 75 57 62, to make the final. Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam title the Zimbabwean-American duo is missing in their résumé.

"We knew the semifinals would be very difficult, because they were difficult last year and they are No.1 in the world," Ruano Pascual said. "For the final we knew we had the experience on our side, though. We weren't as stressed in the final. We saw them play their semifinal and imagined our tactics. We were not nervous at any moment. We played the way we planned."

"We make a beautiful team because we understand each other. Vivi is a very good player when she comes to the net, and from the baseline I have powerful shots," Medina Garrigues said. "With the Spanish style, the high balls, she has a beautiful strategy. This is something we use when we play together."


It's Ruano Pascual's 10th Grand Slam women's doubles title, but only the second with Medina Garrigues, both at Roland Garros. The other eight she had taken during her longtime partnership with the now-retired Paola Suárez, one at the Australian Open (2004), four at Roland Garros (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005) and three at the US Open (2002, 2003, 2004).

Wimbledon is the missing slam and they'll try to take the title there in two weeks.

"Last year I said that after the Olympics I would probably retire, but I did not do it, because I love tennis," Ruano Pascual said. "Sometimes when you win, you feel you should stop when you're at the height of your career. It's a very special moment for me today. I always said I might retire, and maybe on a beautiful victory like this. But maybe now I'll keep playing."

And the biggest motivations for Ruano Pascual, who now has six French Open doubles titles to her name is her father's birthday.

"My father's birthday is on the fifth of June, so each year I try to give him this victory as a present."


Photo/Reuters Pictures)

Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual win their second consecutive French Open women's doubles title!