===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Plexicushion); Major)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Contents
--------

1. Photos
2. Women's Doubles: Final

---------
1. Photos
---------

Daniela Hantuchová:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/overview/wta080394.html
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
http://www.aapimage.com.au/search.aspx?Search=hantuchova
Search http://www.fotosports.com/ for "hantuchova"
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Semi-final and final-photos added, including Daniela:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/

Friday photos, including Daniela:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7859843.stm

-------------------------
2. Women's Doubles: Final (Friday 30th January 2009)
-------------------------

- (DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[9]
lt. (SERENA WILLIAMS/VENUS WILLIAMS)[10], 3-6 3-6

Well, they did very well to get to the final, with that amazing
comeback-win against Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the quarter-
finals!

It was Daniela's second Australian Open Women's Doubles final, but
she has yet to win a Major in Women's Doubles despite having won a
Career Grand Slam in Mixed Doubles.

For the Williams-sisters, it was their eighth Women's Doubles Major
title together.

The match was first on Rod Laver Arena at 15:00 AEDT, which is 04:00
GMT in England, so I hope you'll forgive me for not staying up to
follow live scores. ;-)


2.1 Statistics
--------------

The match lasted 1h16m, with each set lasting 38 minutes.

The statistics don't mention any aces or winners, just 20 unforced
errors and 3 double faults for the Williams-sisters (the double
faults all coming in the second set), and 19 unforced errors and 0
double faults for Hantuyama. Each team made 8 UEs in the first set;
in the second set, the Williams-sisters made 12 UEs while Hantuyama
made 11 UEs.

The Williams-sisters got 54% of their first serves in, winning 71% of
the points when they did so, and only 42% on second serve. It seems
they went for even bigger first serves in the second set, as their
first-serves-in percentage dipped from 64% to 42%, while their first-
serve winning-percentage climbed from 67% to 80%, but their second-
serve winning percentage declined from 60% to 29%.

Hantuyama got 80% of their first serves in, but won only 46% of the
points when they did so, and 33% on second serve. From the first set
to the second, they raised their first-serves-in percentage from 73%
to 86%, but their first-serve winning-percentage dipped from 50% to
42%, while their second-serve winning-percentage crashed from 42% to
0%.

The Williams-sisters had huge first serves compared to Hantuyama:
fastest 121-103 mph, average first serve 107-95 mph. At least
Hantuyama's average second serve was faster than the Williams-
sisters': 82-79 mph.

Hantuyama had almost as many break-points as the Williams-sisters,
but only broke 3 times from 7 BPs, while the Williams-sisters broke
6 times from 8 BPs. The Williams-sisters won the first set by two
breaks to one, and the second set - which had more BPs for both
teams - by four breaks to two.

In points, the Williams-sisters won 64-48 (first set 33-25,
second set 31-23).


2.2 Articles
------------

Venus & Serena win doubles-title [CEEFAX 490->493]
>>>
Venus and Serena Williams won their eighth Major doubles-title with
victory at the Australian Open.

The sisters brushed aside Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia and Japan's
Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 to claim the trophy for the third time in
Melbourne.

"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," said 28-year-
old Venus. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone else. She's amazing."

Serena, 27, targets her tenth Major singles-title on Saturday.
<<<

Williams-sisters earn doubles-title [Teletext 495->498]
>>>
Title for Williams-girls [Teletext 498]

Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Major Women's Doubles
title with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama.

The 76-minute triumph in the searing heat at Melbourne was the
sisters' third title in Australia, and makes them the third-most
successful partnership in the Open Era.

Younger sister Serena also faces Dinara Safina in Saturday's singles-
final.
<<<

Triple treat: Williams-sisters take doubles-crown
By Helen Gilbert (www.australianopen.com)
>>>
Venus and Serena Williams have stormed past Daniela Hantuchová and Ai
Sugiyama to lift the Australian Open Women's doubles-crown for the
third time in their career.

The American sisters produced a devastating display to dispose of the
ninth-seeded pair 6-3 6-3 to earn their eighth Major doubles-title
together, and said the victory was as sweet as their other seven.

"They're all so wonderful." Venus said after the match. "I think we
complement each other on the court because we're both extremely
positive. We know, when the other one moves, what the other one needs
to do to compensate for that or to add to it. I think that we're so
good at putting the ball away - I think it helps us so much."

At first, the Slovak/Japanese duo appeared to have the upper hand in
the encounter, played beneath the Rod Laver Arena roof as the mercury
reached 43°C outside.

The good friends and partners, making their second Major-final
appearance as a team since Roland Garros in 2006, looked relaxed and
jovial as they strolled on court and subsequently eased into the
match, breaking Venus in the opening game.

The fast-paced tone was set immediately as Serena and Hantuchová
became drawn in fierce forehand-rallies. But Serena and Venus were
undeterred, whispering tactics to each other beneath closed
fingertips in trademark fashion. The mood of the match soon changed
when the American sisters produced several pieces of astonishing net-
play.

Venus - clad in a sunshine-yellow dress - was particularly impressive
at 4-3 when she dashed across the net like a flash of lightning to
hit a perfect forehand volley into an open court and earn a break-
point. A Hantuchová backhand-miss gave the sisters a double break,
and spectacular serving by Venus saw the 10th seeds claim the first
set.

Speaking of Venus after the match, Serena said: "She's covering the
whole net. At one point today, I literally stood back and she took
care of everything, so yeah, I just wouldn't want to face them
[Venus's shots] too much. They are ferocious."

Come the second set, each player had trouble holding their serve.
At 1-1, Sugiyama's was the first to go. Serena, Hantuchová and Venus
followed suit, and then Sugiyama got broken again.

It was the younger Williams that became the first to hold, and that
proved to be the deciding factor. Punishing tennis on Hantuchová's
serve then followed as the sisters asserted their authority at the
net to claim their eighth Major doubles-title.

While the sisters produced flawless tennis today, they admitted their
doubles-game needed a bit of help in the early days.

"I think when we first started playing, we thought we knew each other
so well we didn't have to talk between points. Someone told us -
maybe Zina [Garrison] - that we needed to talk between points," Venus
smiled.

"We never told each other where we were going to serve or anything,"
Serena adds.

"We just figured we're so close that we don't need to do that.
I think that's pretty clueless," Venus laughed.

However, there is no question about their doubles-game now.
The victory means that the sisters are now tied for the third-most
successful partnership in the Open Era in terms of Major doubles-
titles. The most successful was Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver,
who scooped 21 Major titles, followed by Gigi Fernández and Natasha
Zvereva (14), and Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez (8).
<<<

Williams-Sisters Win Third Australian Open
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2941
>>>
For the second year in a row, a sister-act has won the Australian
Open Women's Doubles title, with Venus and Serena Williams producing
another powerful display to defeat Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama
in Friday's final: 6-3 6-3. The win represents the sisters' eighth
Major title overall and their third triumph at Melbourne Park; this
year's No.10 seeds also lifted the trophy in 2001 and 2003.

Cool, calm and collected under the closed roof of the Rod Laver
Arena, ninth-seeded Hantuchová and Sugiyama made the better start,
their tactic of both standing back on Venus's serve drawing errors
from the incoming volleyer. But after Hantuchová produced some fine
angles to consolidate her team's early break at 2-0, the Williamses
stepped things up a gear, breaking Sugiyama with clever crossover
play to level at 2-2.

The Japanese veteran's serve was again put under pressure by heavy
returning at 3-4, and the 33-year-old was broken to give the
Americans a chance to serve for the set. That done, they again broke
Sugiyama for 2-1 in the second, but it would prove to be the first of
five consecutive service-breaks, which kept proceedings level until
3-3, but also saw Sugiyama lose her serve yet again for 3-4.
Two games later, Hantuchová was left to keep her team in the match,
but by this time, the hard-fought contest had acquired an air of
inevitability, and the sisters gave away just one point in the final
game.

"We played a great team today: they were very tough," said Venus,
adding with a chuckle, "I'd like to thank for Serena for being the
best partner - I wouldn't play with anyone else."

Speaking for her team, Hantuchová congratulated the champions and
thanked her own partner, Sugiyama, with whom she was also runner-up
at Roland Garros in 2006. "It's a big honour for me to play with
someone like you," the 25-year-old Slovak said. "You're not only a
fantastic player, but one of my best friends."

Indeed, with their complementary styles and communication-skills,
Hantuchová and Sugiyama - who were a regular fixture on the Tour from
2005 until early 2007 - reunited seamlessly during this month's
Australian swing. Notably, they beat world No.1s Cara Black and
Liezel Huber twice: in the quarters at Brisbane, and again in a three-
hour epic at the same stage in Melbourne, saving seven match-points
in the process.

If last year's Australian Open title-run by Alyona and Kateryna
Bondarenko was a surprise, this year's event produced even more
shocks, for none of the top eight seeds reached the quarters. The
Williams-sisters opened their section of the draw by defeating fifth-
seeded Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs in the third round.
Ominously, they say they plan to start playing together more often,
too: "If we keep playing, I think we can keep winning more titles,"
said Venus. "We're going to do our best to play the other Slams [sic]
this year."

After today's final, Sugiyama is projected to rise to No.3 in the
doubles-rankings, while Hantuchová and both Williams-sisters are
expected to enter the top twenty.
<<<

Williams-sisters win Aussie Women's Doubles title
Neil Frankland: AP Sports Writer
>>>
Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Major Women's Doubles
title on Friday, beating Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia and Japan's
Ai Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 in the Australian Open final.

The Williams-sisters, seeded 10th, were untroubled as they served out
the first set in just 38 minutes under a closed roof on centre court.

The temperature topped 113°F in the late afternoon, and the roof on
Rod Laver Arena was closed when the tournament's Extreme-Heat Policy
was put in effect.

The second set proved more difficult as the pairs exchanged breaks
six times in nine games before the Williams' powerful returns and
superior movement around the court proved the deciding factor.

"We played a great team today. They were very tough," Venus said.
"At the end there, I think we just maybe wanted it a little more."

Serena Williams, who returns to centre court on Saturday for the
singles-final, dominated at the net as they broke Sugiyama's serve to
take a 4-3 lead, then sealed the championship by breaking Hantuchová.

"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both
extremely positive," Venus said. "We know, when the other one moves,
what the other one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to
it."

The sisters, who won the Doubles Gold Medal at last year's Beijing
Olympics, held up their rackets to celebrate the win before hugging
each other on court.

"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," Venus
Williams, 28, said. "I wouldn't want to play with anyone else.
She's amazing."

The Williams-sisters now have three Australian Open doubles-titles,
having previously won here in 2001 and 2003. Serena won the singles-
title in 2003, 2005 and 2007.

They have won doubles-titles at all four Majors - a milestone that
Sugiyama was hoping to achieve by winning here with Hantuchová.

Serena, 27, who has a chance to win her tenth singles Major title
when she takes on Dinara Safina on Saturday, looked relaxed during
and after the match.

The sisters laughed and chatted between sets, and made an unhurried
exit from Rod Laver Arena after the trophy-presentations.

"I don't have to work too hard out there. Just hit some big serves,"
Serena said. "Venus hits some big serves; we put the ball away.

"For me, it's great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I
like to go for the win in both events."
<<<

Williams-sisters hungry for more after Open doubles-win (AFP)
>>>
Serena and Venus Williams won their eighth Major doubles-title when
they beat Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchová at the Australian Open
on Friday, and said they were hungry for more.

The sisters claimed their third Australian Open doubles-trophy after
overpowering their opponents 6-3 6-3 in just 75 minutes.

The Williams, who also won here in 2001 and 2003, kept intact their
record of never having lost a doubles-final at a Major.

They are now tied with Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez as the
third-most successful Major women's team in the Open Era, behind
Martina Navrátilová/Pam Shriver with 21 Major titles, and Gigi
Fernández/Natasha Zvereva (14).

"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both
extremely positive," Venus said.

"We know when the other one moves, what the other one needs to do to
compensate for that or to add to it."

Serena, who plays Dinara Safina for the singles-title on Saturday,
added that there was no reason why they couldn't add to their tally,
and said they would try to play together at the year's other three
Majors.

"If we keep playing, I think we can just keep getting titles," she
said.

"We haven't played so much in the last seven years or eight years.

"If we would have played during that time, we probably would have
gotten even more."

The sisters were too powerful in every department for Japan's
Sugiyama and Slovakia's Hantuchová, who were on the back foot from
the moment Sugiyama lost her second service-game.

The Japanese player was under enormous pressure throughout the match,
and failed to hold her serve at all in the second set.

The two teams traded early service-breaks in the first set - from
Venus and Hantuchová - and then games went on serve until 4-3, when
Sugiyama was broken for the first time.

Venus served out the next game to wrap up the first set and put the
sisters firmly in control.

There was a run of five consecutive service-breaks at the start of
the second set, but the Williams-sisters always looked more dangerous.

At 3-4 down, Sugiyama was broken again, and this time Serena served
out the set to love to claim the title.

"We played a great team today," Venus said.

"They were very tough. At the end there, I think we just maybe wanted
it a little more."
<<<

Williams-sisters win third Australian Open doubles-title (Reuters)
By Greg Stutchbury (editing by Nick Mulvenney)
>>>
Serena Williams achieved the first part of a 2009 Australian Open
Major double when she teamed up with older sister Venus to win their
third Women's Doubles title at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Serena is to play the singles-final against Russia's Dinara Safina on
Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.

The 10th seeds, who also won the title at Melbourne Park in 2001 and
2003, beat Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama of Japan
6-3 6-3 to claim their eighth Major doubles-title.

They are now tied for third on the all-time list for Major doubles-
titles - behind the pairings of Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver
(21), and Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva (14).

Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez also won eight titles, but
Venus said she and her sibling would have won more if they had played
more doubles.

"We haven't played so much in the last seven years or eight years,"
Venus told reporters.

"If we would have played during that time, we probably would have
gotten even more.

"Obviously, we have to play well [on Friday]. We played a great team
today. They were very tough."

With the air-temperature over 40°C for the third successive day,
organisers again closed the roof on Rod Laver Arena, and the American
duo hardly looked flustered, winning the first set in 38 minutes.

They continuously attacked the serve of the Slovak and Japanese,
breaking on six of the eight opportunities they had, though they did
not have it all their own way with their own service, being broken
three times.

However, their superior groundstroke-power and court-coverage proved
to be the difference, and they hugged each other when Sugiyama's
backhand volley dropped into the net.

"Sometimes we stay at the baseline because we have such great
groundstrokes," said Serena. "We lose sight that we need to come in.
Once we come in, I think it's even more dangerous.

"I have a great partner. I don't have to work too hard out there.
Just hit some big serves.

"Venus hits some big serves. We put the ball away."
<<<

Williams-sisters win Australian Open doubles-title (AP)
By Paul Alexander: Associated Press Writer
>>>
Serena Williams was happy to have sister Venus on her side of the net
on Friday so that she didn't have to try to fend off those wicked
volleys.

Their doubles title — their third at the Australian Open and eighth
Major title as a combination — came at the expense of Daniela
Hantuchová of Slovakia and Japan's Ai Sugiyama, who lost 6-3 6-3 and
had to dodge a number of stinging shots at the net, particularly from
Venus.

"I just wouldn't want to face them too much. They are ferocious,"
Serena said of her sister's shots. The sisters have faced each other
in seven Major singles-finals.

"She's covering the whole net. At one point today, I literally stood
back and she took care of everything."

It was a good tuneup for Serena's singles-final on Saturday, when she
will face Russia's Dinara Safina.

With the temperature topping 113°F in the late afternoon, the roof on
Rod Laver Arena was closed when the tournament's Extreme-Heat Policy
was again put in effect. It was opened later for the men's match.

Some top players avoid doubles, worrying that the extra time on court
might hamper their singles-prospects. While they took a long time off
from doubles as both dealt with injuries — resulting in them being
seeded only 10th at Melbourne Park — the Williams-sisters have gotten
back together recently, winning Wimbledon and the Olympic Gold Medal
at Beijing last year.

"I have a great partner," Serena said. "I don't have to work too hard
out there. Just hit some big serves. Venus hits some big serves. We
put the ball away. Most of all, I love to play doubles. For me it's
great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I like to go for
the win in both events."

Fun indeed. They dropped only one set in six matches, playing better
as the tournament went along. They were chatting and laughing on
Friday as if they were playing with some friends.

"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both
extremely positive," Venus said. "We never, ever in our lives have
said nasty things to each other. We just don't operate that way."

There's also a different mood for them than in singles.

"I think that when you play good points in doubles, you tend to smile
a little more, enjoy that point with someone else," Venus said.
"It's definitely a different kind of feeling, `cause in singles
you're so focused, you don't even smile, you just move to that next
point without any kind of elation."

The sisters held up their rackets to celebrate the win before hugging
each other on court.

"I'd like to thank Serena for being the best partner," Venus said.
"I wouldn't want to play with anyone else. She's amazing."

They have won doubles-titles at all four Majors: a milestone that
Sugiyama had been hoping to achieve by winning here with Hantuchová.
<<<

Williams-sisters win doubles-title at Australian Open (PA
SportsTicker)
>>>
Serena and Venus Williams claimed the doubles-title at the Australian
Open on Friday, forging a 6-3 6-3 victory over Slovakia's Daniela
Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama of Japan.

It was the 14th career doubles-title for the 10th-seeded Williams-
sisters, and eighth in a Major.

"I have a great partner," Serena said. "I don't have to work too hard
out there. Just hit some big serves. Venus hits some big serves.
We put the ball away. Most of all, I love to play doubles.
For me it's great practice, great fun."

The triumph was also the Williams' third title in Melbourne after
winning here in 2001 and 2003.

The sisters are tied with Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez for
the third-most Major doubles-titles in the Open Era, sitting behind
only Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver (21), and Gigi Fernández and
Natasha Zvereva (14).

The American duo needed only 75 minutes to finish Hantuchová and
Sugiyama, who were seeded ninth, forging eight break-points and
winning six.

The Williamses won 71% of their first-serve points (20 of 28),
overcoming three double faults and 20 unforced errors - one more than
their opponents - en route to the victory.

Serena will try to sweep the women's titles at Melbourne Park on
Saturday when she faces third-seeded Russian Dinara Safina in the
singles-final.
<<<

Sisterly Sweep (Alberto Amalfi, TENNIS.com)
>>>
The Williams-sisters delivered another dose of finality to the Major
field.

Venus and Serena pounded ninth-seeded Daniela Hantuchová and Ai
Sugiyama 6-3 6-3 today to capture their third career Australian Open
doubles-crown.

Moving as if connected by a cord, the sisters swarmed the net in
shrinking the open court-space their veteran opponents had to work
with when they weren't blasting rifle-returns from the baseline.

"They're all so wonderful," Venus said of their Major titles.
"I think we complement each other on the court, because we're both
extremely positive. We know, when the other one moves, what the other
one needs to do to compensate for that or to add to it. I think that
we're so good at putting the ball away; I think it helps us so much."

It was the Williams-sisters' eighth career Major doubles-title
together. They now hold both the Wimbledon and Australian Open
crowns. The sisters, who were seeded 10th but are widely regarded as
the most dominant doubles-team in women's tennis, also partnered to
win Wimbledon and capture their second consecutive Gold Medal in
doubles in Beijing last year.

Though they generally do not play much doubles these days, their
eight career doubles Majors place Venus and Serena tied for third
among the most successful Major doubles-duos in the Open Era.
Hall-of-Famers Martina Navrátilová and Pam Shriver - who are both
working as analysts covering the Australian Open - won 21 Majors.
Gigi Fernández and Natasha Zvereva combined to capture 14 Major
titles, followed by Virginia Ruano Pascual and partner Paola Suárez,
and the Williams-sisters.

Serena summed up their success simply — picking the right partner has
been key.

"I have a great partner. I don't have to work too hard out there,"
Serena said. "Just hit some big serves. Venus hits some big serves.
We put the ball away. Most of all, I love to play doubles. For me
it's great practice, great fun. If I'm really fit, then I like to go
for the win in both events."

Serena, who faces Dinara Safina in Saturday night's singles-final,
will try to sweep Australian Open singles- and doubles-titles for the
first time since 2003, when she edged Venus 7-6(4) 3-6 6-4 in
singles, and partnered Venus to beat Ruano Pascual and Suárez 4-6 6-4
6-3. Venus swept singles- and doubles-championships at Wimbledon in
July.

Playing doubles has helped Serena - who did not produce her best form
during the first week of play - find her serve and refine her return-
game in singles. In the early rounds of doubles-play, Serena was
ripping her crosscourt forehand with more precision in doubles, and
that shot proved to be effective in her victory over Elena Dementieva
in the singles semi-final.

Though the sisters would likely have already reached double digits in
Major doubles-victories had they played more consistently together,
they could claim the single-season Grand Slam if they play all four
Majors.

"We're going to do our best [to play the other Majors this season],"
Venus said. "If we keep playing, I think we can just keep getting
titles. We haven't played so much in the last seven years or eight
years. If we would have played during that time, we probably would
have gotten even more."
<<<

Milestones keep coming for 27-year-old legend Williams
(Saturday 31st January 2009)
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2945
>>>
As part of the blockbuster Williams-sisters partnership with Venus,
Serena also captured the doubles-title: their eighth Major doubles-
title together; they downed Daniela Hantuchová and Ai Sugiyama in an
entertaining two-setter in the final on Friday, stopping Sugiyama
from becoming the fourth active player to earn the Career Women's
Doubles Grand Slam. The other three players to have achieved the feat
are Lisa Raymond and, well, the Williams-sisters.
<<<

I still have to write up my full report for Daniela's first-round
match against Casey Dell'Acqua, which was televised on the BBC
Red Button. I plan to do so this weekend.

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://tinyurl.com/andrewbroad-hantu